Construction and occupation of ephemeral space
PAPER TOWN
Spaces realised by children uninhibited by reality nurture creative imagination.. PLAY
The collective behaviour of the crowd dominates the environment.. a kind of wildness is born out of freedom to play.. to occupy a space with some paper and tape.. and your imagination.. the potential for what you could build stimulates the child and the adult.. it happens too at great speed which brings with it an excitement of its own.. pleasure in the immediacy of the build.. satisfaction of developing a space to occupy instantly granted.. you build it, enter it and you could be anywhere.. you feel a sense of pride and ownership of the space albeit temporary, your creative constructive decisions have been realised.. child architectural sensibilities play out, walls floors doors and windows define a space then accessories are added, chimneys, lights, furniture.. then as the mind wonders it’s time to explore the neighbourhood, investigate what others have made.. numerous identified spaces constitute a town.. lights down, torches on, construction ends and occupation begins.. imagination and play under the watchful delighted eyes of parents and carers.
This was the experience of Paper Town an interaction with 3450 participants at the Tanks Arts Centre Cairns Children's Festival 2018.
Rosie Miller