Sunday, 5 October 2008
Singapore Biennale
Felice Varini's installation in the old Singapore Army Barracks, at the very good Singapore Biennale. The work composes / explodes itself as you move through the space.
The theme of the Biennale is "Wonder", but it could have been "Perspective". Varini's work was one of several highlight pieces that asked the visitor to consider their point of view, the artist's, and the relationship between the two. Also excellent was Sergio Prego's vertiginous use of an explosive device / video work inside the City Hall chambers!
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Zerodate 2008
Just got back from the northern Tohoku region of Japan where i was assisting a friend who was participating in the Zerodate Art Festival. The festival, now in its second year, throws a handful of tinder onto the dying cultural embers of a typical Japanese regional centre. With an emphasis on young artists and site specific works, the week long exhibition already attracts visitors from well outside the host city of Odate.
As anyone who has traveled in the Japanese countryside knows, it can seem like some cities practically emptied overnight, with only the elderly and very young remaining. So an annual observation, assesment and renewal of the towns culture and innumerable abandoned buildings by a well-curated gang of artists is a big deal with the local populace. The work is diverse and ambitious within its broader attempt to channel a kind of archaeological response to the town's declining fortunes and stoic traditions.
All on the smell of an oily rag and a million rice balls, of course.
Thursday, 29 May 2008
Communication x ixc.
For the next couple of days I have a group project on display in the basement exhibition space at Cassina in Ebisu. The project we undertook, a furniture concept for contemporary office spaces, was developed over an 18 month period in conjunction with the design department at ixc., Cassina's Japanese arm.
The table is designed to be used in the common spaces of the Japanese office, where it facilitates spontaneous and informal meetings. The varying heights, footprint and transparent surfaces were specified to allow quick re-positioning, group member interchangeability and the visible storage of devices. The aesthetic references natural elements and an atmosphere of informality into the office, stimulating creativity.
Copyright (c) 2008 CASSINA IXC. Ltd. & Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music. All Rights Reserved.
Monday, 28 April 2008
Auger-Loizeau
Labels: Auger, Loizeau, MoMA, technology
Been a while. Glancing through MoMA's exceptional Design and the Elastic Mind homepage offered a spectrum of interesting projects. I was left wishing I could see the show physically, but the name of one of the exhibiting design teams - Auger-Loizeau - rang a bell. I realised I had been aware of their projects for a while, bu until I had a closer look, I hadn't recalled how notably they move between technology, art and design.
It's fascinating to see how far down the path of facilitating science design can travel, while still being considered for exhibition, even in a renowned gallery of fine art. Auger and Loizeau's aesthetic is honed, polished - almost engineered. Their designs are extrusions of science; the creation of cowlings that bring technologies both simple and complex into close harmony with the human senses. While industrial designers are constantly reminded of the importance of communication, it's great to remember that sometimes the idea , the function itself, is the communication.
Monday, 25 February 2008
Sotsuten
Labels: Beijing, China, organic waste, sustainability
Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku Graduate Exhibition, until Tuesday the 26th of February only!
I'm exhibiting my Bioloop concept for Beijing.
