Rise and Fall of a Temple

The workshop introduced students to the themes of The Rise and Fall of a Temple through discussion, reflection and collaborative making. Students explored the idea of a “temple in transition”,a structure shaped by history, authority and belief. A structure that is at the same time fragile and open to transformation.

The workshop began by considering the social systems represented by the temple’s five pillars: war, patriarchy, slavery, expansionism and technology. Then the group experimented with cardboard and other materials to collectively build pillars, fragments, entrances and broken sections.

The workshop ended with a reflection on what kind of temple was emerging and whether it deserved to stand. The students’ work then contributed to the participatory performative action ‘What Temple Do We Want” where they, together with participants from the audience, carried and (diss)- assembled the temple collectively on the Parade Ground.