“Normal Life is a Full-Time Job”

on
Kateřina Šedá, UNES-CO (2017)

By appropriating the language and imagery of corporate culture, Kateřina Šedá calls attention to the serious effects it has had on cities overburdened by tourism. Šedá created a fictional company, UNES-CO, which partners with cities on the UNESCO World Heritage List whose tourist economies have rendered them void of “normal life.” Český Krumlov is a small town in the Czech Republic known for its UNESCO-listed castle complex and gardens. Tourism has driven its residents to the periphery of the city en masse, leaving the city center without any signs of traditional daily activity. So, Šedá set out to draw its residents back in. Her fictitious company employed citizens of Český Krumlov for three months to live in company housing in the town’s center and perform everyday activities. By moving residents into the center, Šedá encouraged them to take back their city as well as the minute, but essential, normalcies of life.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *