We are all guilty of taking our phones to the bathroom for entertainment whilst on the toilet. A time for relieving human waste, becomes a waste of time. Do we do this because the toilet is too comfortable? What if we introduce discomfort to the surroundings, and make the toilet more biologically comfortable? Then we wouldn’t linger there, wasting time in an unhealthy position, and our mindless scrolling can take place in other parts of the home better suited relaxation.
Finding Comfort Through Discomfort
Fountain
Marcel Duchamp
(1917)
On 9th April 1917, Marcel Duchamp submitted an artwork to the Society of Independent of Artists’ salon in New York. It was an upside-down urinal titled the fountain. The society rejected it claiming it is not a true work of art. The event sparked a debate. He made everyone question what makes something a work of art. For years, Duchamp championed the use of re-contextualised, ‘ready-made’ objects as artworks. Are everyday objects only significant to our daily lives by virtue of their usefulness? Remove the use, and you remove the significance. If a ready-made toilet can become one the 20th century’s most significant pieces of art, then could it generate an equally significant provocation in architecture? What happens if we transform the significance and environment surrounding the toilet instead of reimagining the object itself?
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino
(1994)
Seen repeatedly throughout the 1994 film Pulp Fiction, John Travolta is shown playing the role of Vincent Vega who is constantly on the toilet, leading to his eventual demise. The character battles a drug and alcohol addiction. As Vaga’s physical health deteriorates, the toilet becomes a significant space, which illustrates how precious time can be easily wasted.