Earth( e)scape
research, collages

Earth (e)scape ventures a theory about the city of Chicago leaving the Earth in 19^th century. In the prism of the period’s imaginary an ever growing fear of the Earth can be identified. further research reveals real efforts of the city to leave the surface of the planet. 

more about the project︎︎︎

Projects such as raising the entire American metropolis up to 14 feet above its natural ground in the 19th century, blend the real and the unbelievable. The ancient tradition of technology in the services of spectacle, was brought back to life. As opposed to the traditional narration of the events consisting of explaining the project as an urban development masterplan, Earth( e)scape sugests an interpretation based on the period’s imaginary.





The Earth had destructive effects on the mid-19th century city of Chicago and its population. The city built on a swamp was constantly sinking in mud. Chicago’s unpaved streets devouring its unsuspecting inhabitants alive provided strong foundations for fear of the Earth.

Chicago’s imaginary developed this fear further by conceiving “death fogs”, the noxious fumes emitted by the mud which were causing sudden and terrible death. The terror grew ever greater. With “death fogs” the Earth could kill on distance. Death carts collecting corpses were unceasingly cruising Chicago’s streets. The city struck by numerous epidemics which were understood as effects of “death fogs”, was flooded with incredible amounts of dead human bodies proving the Earth’s deadly power. Chicago became a scene of horror. All this could be deducted from the atchitectural and urbanistic evolution of the city before the Great Fire.

Rooted in the 19th century technological optimism, Chicagoans could only find refuge from the horrors in the stunning possibilities offered by technology. Prominent engineers of the times found solutions to set the city free from the Earth. Hundreds of perfectly synchronized workmen equipped with jackscrews lifted the city, building after building street after street. Visitors from all around the world were coming to see the spectacle. Chicago took of the Earth.




Creation of collages appropriating fragments of the 19th century reality and reorganizing them according to the period’s imaginary was an important part of the exploration completing the bibliographical research.




created under the supervision of Sébastien Quéquet