Week 13 – Suspension Presentation

Positioning Statement

The wintergardens are a site made up of framing. Every major element within the space is framed or bordered, giving us a sense of what is considered important. My work aims to explore further the idea of framing and why we might cast a certain lens onto some aspects of a work and not others. There are several meanings to framing, but the two that I am most interested in is the framing of an artwork for protection and enhanced aesthetic or the framing of a person usually done to protect someone. This second definition is what jumps out at me the most; It’s an act of giving up one thing for another and has a sense of superiority/inferiority. It’s often fake and misleading, but how do we decide what to give priority or safety to?

The gardens were constructed in the style of Arts and Crafts and carry with them a sense of romanticism. The site is open with no guided way to view the collection and for me this makes the area feel relaxed and laid back but also reduces the impact of the exhibited plants. I would like to contrast this in my design and build a sense of tension into the site through creating more defined viewports or ‘lenses.

My design will consist of a suspended textile ‘wall’ that works to obscure the majority of the view allowing me to choose what aspects are given priority over others. Set in the heated glasshouse, this semi transparent textile wall will be paired with sensored lighting to create a more interactive exhibit that changes dependant on the time of visit. Plants will be visible as they pop out from the bottom or hang over the top, but the eye level frame will be taken away. During the day the wall can act in two ways; a veiled threshold through which the viewer can see the plants but is a step removed from them or pulled back in sections opening the space up. The idea of veiling is inspired by the weddings that are so popular at the site and the effects of a bride’s veil. At night the exhibit transforms, as the textile wall becomes a solid visual barrier within the darkness. Dependant on where light is situated the fabric will act either transparent or opaque. With this in mind, lighting and shadow will be used to assist in guiding the viewer through the space, bringing areas to life or hiding them away. A constant ebb and flow of tension will be introduced within the space at night as the lights alternate on and off. A human uncertainty at what could exist behind the veiled wall. A nod back to the definition of framing as a form of protection comes into play here. The ‘wall’, when closed is a form of protection for the plants, placing a barrier between them and us.