SCALA at IAF House

Scala

This installation is the result of a collaborative workshop and performance hosted by the artist Asbestos during the Open House Junior weekend, as part of Open House Dublin 2025. 

During the workshop, Asbestos was dressed as the mythical spirit SCALA, wearing a specially built, sculptural costume that represents how finely balanced our collective space is. SCALA is a manifestation of all that’s good and bad in our urban spaces. SCALA collects and absorbs the sentiments of the city, remembering the past and seeing into potential futures. But SCALA cannot build the city; his arms cannot reach the ground above his head, so he needs us to build the perfect shared city.

During the first half of the workshop, the children were invited to make cardboard buildings that combine the old and the new, public and private, and work and play. In the second half of the workshop, SCALA appeared and asked the children to build the city on his head.

SCALA’s costume is in two parts. The lower part represents all the conflicting ideas and tensions that lie beneath the city, bubbling away, collected by SCALA over the centuries. Its shape and themes are influenced by Dante’s Divine Comedy, mimicking the layers of the underworld, the vices of the people, and the potential of redemption. The upper part has fabric banners hanging from the brim inspired by protest banners and populated with quotes, responses to the housing crisis, aspirational visions of the city, and graffiti. 

Over and over, the children added their buildings, hoping it all balanced. Each time they filled the space above his head, SCALA spun around to see if the city was balanced. Each time the buildings came crashing down they started again. Finally, with all the buildings secure, the children could balance SCALA. 

Credits:

Artist: Asbestos. Presented by the IAF.

Exhibit A

Scala is on display in IAF House alongside three exhibitions presented by the IAF this autumn that act as evidence towards countering negative and untrue narratives about our built world. To Not Design Is To Cost The Earth argues the absolute value of design when it comes to building a better, fairer world. HouseEurope! presents evidence of the wanton, unnecessary demolition of buildings in Europe when cities and those that live in them badly need more space for housing. Mise Le Meas presents evidence of the loss of social, cultural and intellectual capital that is happening as our young people leave Dublin to build their lives abroad.

All exhibitions are available to view until 30 November at IAF House at Charlemont Square, Dublin.

Accessibility Information

IAF House is a temporary-use space and does not have direct access to toilet and washroom facilities inside the space. Participants and visitors have full use of toilets, including an accessible toilet, located in a separate adjoining building approximately 100 metres away. The space and doorways open wide, and the venue does not have any steps or stairs.

Please contact us at info@iaf.ie if you have any access requirements.

Sensory Space

IAF House offers a sensory room, a quiet, calming space designed for visitors who may feel overstimulated or overwhelmed.

Image: Photo courtesy of Asbestos