Millennium Park in Chicago is very civilized. After awhile I couldn’t stand to be there. Too civilized. I need to go to uncivilization. To touch.
Comments: This made me very curious, because Millenennium park is a park after all. Maybe it was too designed for him with all manmade stuff–music shell, huge metallic bean sculpture, video sculpture, bridge. But there are large patches of grass and some wild plant areas. But perhaps these areas were too planned out for him.
Source: 9/23/2004 talk by Italian designer Piero Lissoni at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago
The park is a public space, so it is supposed to be civilized, but from my stand point for a park with the moniker “Millennium” it seems to be more reflective of what is happening now rather than the potential. The reason the park is always inundated with people is because it is so civilized. There’s little room for individual interpretation because it has to have such instantaneous, broad appeal … to be civilzed. It’s not my favorite space in the city primarily because it [i”>is[/i”> so civilized.
Interesting points there tom. I never really thought of parks being civilized. Their intention seemed to be of going back to nature. Or having a touch of nature. But “civilized”… “civilization”… “people” parks are made specifically for people to use. Now, “Millennium”… for me that seems more to mean about the rest of the 1,000 years. Not just what’s now.
I have no comment on Piero’s comment, except to say that I actually like Millennium Park. It’s not my favorite place in the city, to be sure, but it’s not half bad!
I’d say Millennium Park is twice half great!
maybe Piero likes undisturbed countryside. if so, he should go to the country, not to the city. i think, for an urban setting, Chicago has quite a plethora of greenery. let’s celebrate Daniel Burnham’s plan!
Viva la Daniel Burnham! Oh wait, he’s dead. Viva la Daniel-burnham’s-plan!
Speaking of Burnham, thank goodness I’ve finally recovered my copy of “Devil in the White City” (it was buried under some “rubble” in the bedroom). :o)
Piero is a sensationalist, self-centered, smart ass and nothing else. First he says he likes to design uncomfortable couches. Now he says Millennium Park is too civilized. His statements are shallow attempts to draw attention to himself. He reminds me of a refined Mike North. For those who do not know Mike North, he is a sports talk radio guy on AM 670. Actually, since North went to the mornings a few weeks ago, he has fallen into complete stupidity. Any way… North would purposely go against the obvious to draw attention to himself. Last year, EVERYONE in Chicago was saying Dick Jauron should be fired. Mike North was the only person who wanted to keep Jauron. He took this stance to stand out just like Piero. Piero sees that people like comfortable couches. He wants to stand out so he says he likes to design uncomfortable couches. He sees that everyone loves Millennium Park. He decides to say bad things about it so he can stand out. I wouldn’t give Piero the time of day. There’s no point in even debating with him because you would be giving the one thing he wants: attention.
Moose took the words right out of my mouth, concerning Piero’s latest comment anyway. I read that this morning and felt like he was a bit full of himself and that the dialogue was probably created so he could hear himself talk.