Abstract
This essay examines Krzysztof Wodiczko’s collaboration with the homeless in Homeless Vehicle (1988-1989), which has often been understood as a weaponized comment against urban development, gentrification, and poverty. However, prior studies of the work have not gone into detail about Wodiczko’s collaboration with the homeless and assumes they had the same intentions as the artist. Thus, this essay analyzes the functionality of Homeless Vehicle and Wodiczko’s collaboration with the homeless.
In 1986, Wodiczko created the initial design proposal for Homeless Vehicle and had several conversations with homeless people. Between 1988 and 1989, Wodiczko made prototype vehicles for this work. This essay compares his initial proposal with the prototypes while also referring to the conversation transcripts of his correspondence with homeless people.
Through this analysis, this essay reveals that the functionality of Homeless Vehicle is grounded in the social and political circumstances of the homeless, and so, the work expresses quiet resistance. In addition, this essay shows that homeless people’s intentions for collaborating with Wodiczko was for their survival.
