Art418 | Practice Installation

Colour code: 

Categories of Installation.

Related artists. 

Points that could relate to my Art418 topic.

Dream scene 

 flew into space from his apartment

Unrealistic but playful

Heightened perception 

How do you feel? All physical responses 

Embodied experience 

Bodily awareness - how does this relate to seeing resonating bodies 

Ernesto Neto 

Walking in the Venus blue caves 

Sensory

Mimetic Engulfment

Light dark mirrors 

Lucas Samaras 

Losing sense of orientation 

Bill viola 

video installation 

Not sure where you are in the space 

Activated Spectatorship 

Surround and given a role,

Not just looking 

The space is inviting. Not physically. 

Helio Oiticica 

Eden 

Participation 

Following this initial discussion/ explanation, we split up into groups - blindly choosing one of the installation topics listed above - Heightened Perception. 

Initially, we discussed our topic, recapping the information shown on the slide, sharing initial ideas. One specific theme of interest was sensory experience: especially vision and touch. Inspired by memories of walking through/ kicking leaves as a child, the main idea was to recreate this feeling.This led to conversation and questions about each other's chosen topics, animation, feminism and childlike views. Aiming to vaguely relate this task back to these themes. Key concepts that are relatable to all topics were the idea of colours and movements. 

To begin constructing our installation, we secured the box with tape for structural stability. With the viewpoint of this box representing a room, we only required a small quantity of supplies to visualise the design. Saving materials whilst testing. From initial discussions we decided that if this were a ‘real’ exhibition, the room would be dark, meaning that the materials representing the leaves are irrelevant as you wouldn't really be able to see it.

Gathering supplies, paper, and markers from the studio allowed us to experiment with colour, sound, and shape. Primary colours are simple, the introduction to colour theory and the main choices of child friendly art supplies. We limited our colour palette to this from the paper shreds. Both sides of A4 paper were coloured roughly, then torn and put to the side. Next, full pieces of paper were scrunched as filler, having a bigger surface paper - showing environmental considerations. Filling half the box with these first was also time-efficient, allowing us to create the layer of colour on top within the allotted time of the lesson. 

Throughout this process, we discussed the concept of play in relation to art. The relaxing, care free experience and comparing this task to knowledge of friends work from other courses - typically writing based. There was a shared enjoyment and satisfaction from colouring and tearing paper, mindless work.

Once the paper was in place, we discussed the current state of our installation box. Revisiting the ideal location, a dark room, and coming to the decision to include more visual sensory experiences. 

Without access to LED lighting, and with a limited amount of time remaining, we began experimenting with our phone torches. First shining them down into the box, this was too light and removed the aspect of mystery and the unknown. Placing the phones below the paper worked effectively to distort the light, giving the viewer partial control of the quantity of light exposed. Once the paper is moved slightly the lighting shifts, changing tint to that of the paper directly above it. If this were done on a larger scale, with multiple people experiencing it, it would be interesting to observe how simultaneous movements impacted the experience. 

The use of sound and lighting creates chaotic, continuous stimulation. Consistent changes make people alert and curious. Whilst the idea of mystery and the dark may be seen as a scare factor. Our main idea was enhanced by this pause to discuss midway through, expanding the initial concept to add depth to the overall experience. 

When sharing the outcome with the other groups, it was interesting to receive feedback. I noticed a curiosity towards the lighting below the paper, I think the use of the phones limited the effectiveness of the outcome - a bit of a let down. A more secretive lightsource would make it more difficult to work out where it’s coming from/ what it is - prolonged heightened awareness.