Sara Silva, participant in INOV-Art programme who works in CCI in an internship, arrived in Macau three weeks ago and the first impression, in the perspective of a visitor, made her compare it with numerous others cities viewed from the heights: so powerful but indeed so different in its forms, colors and shapes. From this experience she could understand the politics, economy and social dynamics of Macau from a different perspective, another dimension, different from the usual ground level experience we are used to. On the other hand, seeing the city from above gave her the feeling that we could actually control the city just like we do when we play with Lego or Playmobils.

Her main challenge was to give a different approach to the city roof tops. She imagined all the possibilities of social and cultural dynamics that could take place in these small architecture spaces, part of the city’s design. The idea started from the concept of movement personified by the strong wind, the small organic gardens that grow as if they were scared of the city, and from the visual connection between all the roof tops. It culminated with the possibility to have, including or not the laundry and small gardens, real people moving: either in a performance or art installation.

In the roof tops of Macau she found the possibility to create a city within the city itself, she found places where we can intervene in space and time. Within the tiny little streets and small areas glued to each other, we can find new ways to continue creating, thinking, and most importantly, living.