The Force of Invasion
This semester’s research revolves around the theme of “The Force of Invasion,”
focusing on the industrial ruins of Charleroi to explore the impact of rust and
degradation on the city. This force operates both as a physical process of corrosion
and as a broader metaphor for social-spatial transformation. By deconstructing and
reconstructing metallic components, my project follows the inherent paths of
corrosion, symbolically illustrating how the growth of rust and natural fading shape
new spatial forms and ecological orders. Rust is not merely a chemical
transformation but also a metaphorical representation of “fade.”
The research unfolds along two parallel dimensions:
Extracting the traces and textures of corrosion on metallic components and
translating them into the core principles of reconstruction;
Simulating how the “fade” process generates forces within the elements, altering
spatial forms.
Ultimately, the research integrates multiple modes of expression through videos and
images, presenting its core ideas. This includes ink simulations of invasion and
transformation processes, alongside narratives from Charleroi’s urban films about
displaced metal-recycling workers. These elements are interwoven to convey how
“fade,” as an active force, reshapes and reconstructs the city’s core dynamics.
