There's a secret pool somewhere in the Mojave desert
And it's no mirage.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Somewhere in the 47,877 square mile Mojave desert exists an 11-by-5-foot pool. Amid the arid landscape it is filled with cool, clean water and is available for anyone to use, but first you have to find it.
Social Pool is an art installation created in 2014 by Austrian artist Alfredo Barsuglia and maintained by its visitors, who must first go to the MAK Centre for Art and Architecture in West Hollywood and pick up one of four keys and a set of GPS coordinates.
It might be a lot of effort to go to to laze by a pool, but that’s exactly the point.
"The idea is that it all starts the moment you pick up the key,” Barsuglia told the Los Angeles Times. “You then have the experience of getting there: of maybe sitting in traffic, of the walk in the desert, of enjoying the pool if you find it, then returning the key to the MAK Center. That is all part of the project."
He added that the installation was “about the effort people make to reach a luxury good," and how they choose to treat it.
You might expect the pool to have been trashed, but thus far it remains well kept by guests.
“I don't think that someone takes the effort to visit the pool to destroy it,” the artist told LAist (sic). “Yes, I trust the participants, but as I mentioned before, if someone comes to destroy the work, it's sad but part of the project—of letting the project develop by itself, without my or anybody's influence.
“To sit in the pool and watch the scenery is outstanding. I think it's so nice that nobody would conceive the idea to damage it, but to prevent it for the next visitor. But you never know… we will see."
I guess it's just as well he didn't build it in Britain.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments