Cápsula del tiempo

Medium: Public Art

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Artist: Agencia de Viaje - international collaborative

Confronting Bodies: Herminio Trigo, Mayor of Cordoba, Spain

Dates of Action: June 1992

Location: Cordoba, Spain - along the Avenida de la Confederation, in the southern embankment of the Guadalquivir river between the Roman and New bridges, and across Cordoba's Great Mosque.

Description of Artwork: The Capsula de Tiempo Cordoba, a public time capsule, is an 85 meter long trench filled with 35 tons of liquid tar. The project is an active archeological site that is open to the public in association with Expo ' 92 in Spain. The asphalt matrix is an open communications system into which any one can deliver a message or object. Described by representatives of the collective , Agencia de Viaje , as a ' 'wishing well, its form is constructed by those who contribute to its contents.

The Incident: A few days before the scheduled inauguration of the Capsula de Tiempo in Cordoba, construction permits were not granted and the project was rejected to another site by City Hall. After continuous meetings with representatives of the City Hall ( Mayor Trigo never met with Agencia de Viaje ) the project was definitely rejected. Internal conflicts between the regional government ( Junta de Andalucla, sponsor of the project ) and the local authorities were a decisive aspect . The Junta de Andalucia is responsible of preserving the archeological wealth of the region and is in charge of stopping every new urban construction in Cordoba when archeological remains are found. It seems that the city thought that constructing an artificial archeological site was a joke coming from the Junta. In its own way, the Capsula de Tiempo Cordoba reifies the political aspects of the discussion on preservation versus renovation of our cultural environment. he Junta. In its own way, the Capsula de Tiempo Cordoba reifies the political aspects of the discussion on preservation versus renovation of our cultural environment.

Results of Incident: Like the weather, these unpredictable administrative forces moved the site down river to Sevilla, to the grounds of Expo ' 92, where the project was received. Here, striking a line at the entrance of the 15th Cartujan monastery, lies the Capsula de Tiempo Cordoba, inaugurated with the closing ceremonies of the Universal Exposition. Alive and ready for new archeological writing.

Source: Agencia de Viaje, Sevilla, Spain