What does space carry? People won’t have such an inquiry when they see the everyday space or place. Assuming that allows deeper observations, several perspectives might appear. This essay will address my investigation of a physical site in relation to Georges Perec and Agnès Varda and attempt to reveal the meaning of space through different methods of investigation.
The specific space I chose to investigate was the coffee shop, called Coffee Berry next to my flat. When I saw the word ‘observation’, I thought it was only related to the physical appearance of the space. The inspiration that sparked my method of observing was found in Georges Perec’s book Species of Spaces and Other Pieces (Perec, 1974). In his book, Perec provides a refreshing exercise of investigation.
“Note down what you can see. Anything worthy of note going on. Do you know how to see what’s worthy of note? Is there anything that strikes you? Nothing strikes you. You don’t know how to see. You must set about it more slowly, almost stupidly. Force yourself to write down what is of no interest, what is most obvious. most common. most colourless”(Perec, 1974, p. 50)
I took on his approach and related my work starting to relook the coffee shop carefully, trying to document all the details: location, environment, sound, smell, textures, patterns, conversations between people. These notes deepen the layer of my observation. Following the first stage of the investigation, I noticed the notes, sounds, and videos are recorded through the eyes, ears, and lens, portraying the image of the coffee shop in my eyes: a cozy homelike place, an invigorating community. By collecting the conversations between the owner and customers in the coffee shop, I try to understand the meaning of space. In retrospect, this collecting observation, which is derived from Agnès Varda’s film The Gleaners and I (2000) She said at the end of the film.
“There is a woman in the movie who is picking up wheat ears, and that person is me”. (The Gleaners and I, 2000)
The Gleaning behavior was throughout the film, not just on the interviewee being recorded but also the director. The collecting observation freezes time and carries the memory of space.
Reflecting on my investigation, I can realize the relation to both sources. First by the approach of observation inspired by Georges Perec’s and second, by Agnès Varda’s similar collecting observation and understanding of space in her film. which help me see more carefully and take a deeper look at space.
Reference list:
Perec, G. (1974) Species of Spaces and Other Pieces. London: Penguin.
The Gleaners and I (2000) [Film] Directed by Agnès Varda. France: Ciné-Tamaris.