Added May 25, 2014
The Weigh House is a medieval ruin, four high walls surrounding a courtyard. Once it was used to weigh the goods brought into the docks of Southampton and a proportion taken for the kings tax. It now stands unused and locked.
The locked gate signifies an ownership of that space; a space the public are permitted to use when paying and under certain circumstances.
My work was opening this locked gate to the public, allowing the public to use the space as they want. It also represents the underlying politics of the use of public spaces in Southampton.
Is it ok to lock these places away or lease them out to commercial businesses? Is it part of an on going erosion of freedom and public property that people take for granted and accept? So, in a bigger picture the act of opening the gate also allows us to think about the freedom of speech by the act of unlocking to a free and open space. What people do in this space is their choice. Should people wish to sit and eat lunch that is fine. Stand and smoke, that is fine, children run about playing, that too is fine. Street entertainers to set up and play would be terrific. During the time of the exhibitions opening hours, it is the people’s space to use respectfully and lawfully. Anyone, or any group can use the space as theirs, to enjoy and admire. It is after all a public property.
The idea is to not interfere or plan any events, no rotas of who uses it when. Simply allow the space to be.
Hopefully the presence of the open gate will encourage inquisitive people to enter; and therefore take part in the art. Freedom also means to give a choice; they can also ignore the open gate and walk past.