The “any-space-whatevers” of Gordon Matta-Clark: building cuts under Deleuzian optics (I)

Abstract

Artistic interventions in buildings made by Gordon Matta-Clark in 70’s are a constant source of critical interpretations for the particular nature of its shaping. It is possible to consider these building cutsmade by Matta-Clark as “any-space-whatevers” (Gilles Deleuze). For that the present article presents the concept of “paracinema”, developed by Esperanza Collado, by which diverse artistic practices can be performed as cinematographic experiences external to its specific medium, by employing in them processes and concepts of the cinematographic device by other external means. The concept of “paracinema” works as a mediator between the idea of “ritornelo” -artistic creation of a territory (Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari)-and “any-space-whatevers”, empty and disconnected spaces that, presented in cinematographic images , are able to  generate  "time-images"  or  “direct  time  presentations”. In this way, the artistic interventions in buildings, because of their condition of paracinematic “any-space-whatevers”, could produce localized “time-images” in place.

Keywords

• Gordon Matta-Clark
• Building cuts
• Paracinema
• Espacio cualquiera
• Gilles Deleuze