ARTIFACTUAL & URBAN DECAY
OF THE
HOUSES OF HEIDELBERG
​Many of the houses in Heidelberg are unlivable due to degradation and decay. The house pictured on the left has a large hole in the roof. However, elements of it are still upkept to suspend it in this state of decomposition. This gives the house a very stylized feel. The different colours evoke an inviting feeling, but the spray-painted words and general corrosion of the site give it a haunted feeling. This creates an interesting contrast of emotions.
The house on the right titled ‘The Polka Dot House’ is where Guyton grew up. His mother still lives in the house amidst the thousands of tourist that pass through each year. The house is the most noticeably dominant piece of the installation as it can be seen from anywhere on the block. Along with the fact that this house has such a personal connection to the artist, I believe it is the most impactful piece of the installation. It demonstrates not only how Guyton has changed since he was a child growing up, but also how his changes have affected his family.
Over the years since Heidelberg’s inception, there have been a number of arsons, particularly in 2013 and 2014, which have caused setbacks to Guyton and his team. One notable arson that occurred in early March of 2014. A property named ‘The Party House’ was burned to the ground on account of suspected human involvement (Aguilar, 2015). The picture of the small building showcased below titled ‘Congo’ is a small scale version of ‘The Party House’, perhaps created as a memorial to what was lost.
