House of Cards #3

Brad Downey

2007, Hamburg, Germany
Material: paving stones

www.braddowney.com



It was a public work which lasted for 4 days. The installation was anonymous. The artist quite literally deconstructed and reimagined the existing urban fabric by extracting the very paving stones that once formed the ground surface. What was once underfoot has been transformed into a striking, freestanding barrier or divider. This subversive act of dismantling and repurposing the commonly overlooked paving materials draws attention to the often disregarded elements that make up our built environments. It forces the viewer to perceive these ordinary components in a completely new context and form.

The ephemeral nature of this "brick wall" also raises questions about permanence, impermanence, and the transient nature of our surroundings. What once seemed solidly embedded into the landscape has been temporarily upended and reconfigured through human intervention. Overall, this artwork cleverly challenges perceptions and encourages a more conscious engagement with the materials and infrastructures that shape our urban spaces. By disrupting and reimagining the existing order, it prompts deeper contemplation about our relationship with the built world around us.



The meshes are photogrametric representations of the original work. Please wait for the 3D models to load. Depending on your internet connection this may take a couple of seconds.