Overview participating exhibitions
Metropolis
2011
Metropolis
Elian Somers
CALIFORNIA CITY (United States, 2010-2011)
In the 1950s the Czechoslovak sociologist Nathan K. Mendelsohn developed plans for California City, a utopian city in the desert that could relieve the pressures of population growth in Los Angeles and San Francisco. A grid of 52,000 parcels was laid out on 330 square kilometres of land, along with expressways, streets and utilities. There was also a park, the world's largest lake with a plastic liner, golf courses and model dwellings. Although initially all the lots were sold, California City still has only 14,000 residents. Elian Somers's project combines her photography with reproductions of old photos and a parcellation plan.
Biography
Elian Somers (Netherlands, 1975) took a Masters in architecture from the Technical University Delft, and a Masters in photography at AKV St. Joost in Breda. In 2007 her Droom als er ooit een was appeared, a research project dealing with the modern utopian urban landscapes of cities like Brasilia and Cumbernauld. In 2010 she was nominated for the Bouw in Beeld Prize.