Our setup.
The PENDULUM exhibit at Barnard College took place in a traditionally decorated room, lit with chandeliers and with classical portraits of former presidents on the wall. One of our challenges was to disrupt this atmosphere, in order to unsettle our visitor and to capture their attention.
To respond to this challenge, we chose to have minimal lighting with strong, white projector lights on the materials. We divided the room with shoji screens, making the visitor go through a kind of itinerary.
We also organized the exhibit in 15-minute "loops", each composed of three phases.
To respond to this challenge, we chose to have minimal lighting with strong, white projector lights on the materials. We divided the room with shoji screens, making the visitor go through a kind of itinerary.
We also organized the exhibit in 15-minute "loops", each composed of three phases.
PHASE 1: The Photo exhibit.
During the first phase, which lasted five minutes, the doors to the exhibit stayed open. Visitors could come in and start exploring the materials at their own pace.
First, they discovered a series of photos, displayed on five-foot stands, on tables and on furniture.
First, they discovered a series of photos, displayed on five-foot stands, on tables and on furniture.
Then, they turned and discovered the second part of the room. There, they found a blank TV screen with chairs, the Bipolar Book, which they could open and read selected parts of, the mirror painting, which they could interact with, and our two performers, Nadia and Ruguru, sitting motionless on the floor.
The Bipolar book:
The Mirror Painting:
PHASE 2: The short film.
After five minutes, the TV screen suddenly lit up and played this short film, put together by Ornella with music by Thando.
PHASE 3: The performance art.
Immediately after the short film ended, the music for the performance art, "Pendulum" by FKA twigs, started playing, and Ruguru and Nadia came to life to perform their five-minute piece.
After Nadia and Ruguru's performance, the visitors were informed that the exhibit was over. They were given the options to exit the space, to stay a couple of minutes to look at the artwork, or to start the loop again from the beginning.
As they exited the space, visitors were given the chance to share their thoughts and reactions, on post-it notes and in person with the members of the PENDULUM crew that were present outside. They also were able to bid on some exhibited artwork; the majority of the pieces were sold that night.
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