Lucio Fontana Environments
My first time ever seeing light immersive environment was about 10 years ago at San Fransisco Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA).
Hmmm 🤔
Now that I think about it, it's more than 10 years ago since I was still doing my undergrad.
Wow, how did that happen...
Anyway.
The first time I saw a light immersive environment was an Olafur Eliasson show.
And how it changed my life.
Why? Or better yet how?
Let me tell you.
It's important to setup what the show was like to step foot into.
Olafur Eliason, 2007.
When the lift doors opened, because of the colour of the florescent, the rod and cones in your eyes are no longer able to see in colour. 👀
All of a sudden, my vision is purely tonal.
I can only see in tones and shades of greys.
It challenged me conceptually, and also, how something as simple as colour can alter:
1: space
2: vision
3: interaction between me and other people
The impact literally at the beginning the show already sets up the expectation of how amazing the rest of the show will be.
And
it
was
amazing.
Blew my mind. 💥
Confused my brain.🌫
Made me want to immediately go back to school and make work and be an amazing artist.👩🎨
I know, I know this has nothing to do the title of this post.
It was important to set up the foundation of immersive environments.
Let's get into it.
Location:
Hangar Biccoca Pirelli
Setup:
As you lift the curtains to walk into the exhibition space, you are greeted by 👇 install.
Trying to Understand Self: All the images I've seen online seem amazing. I hope the show is interesting and doesn't make me have to work super hard.
Artist Self: I HOPE IT'S AMAZING TOOOOOOOOOOOO
AS: OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Absolutely blinded by this very well lit piece.
TTUS: It's so freaking bright.
Blinded.
Ok.
What should I look at?
Obvs it's the light piece that's like 6 metres above ground, but surely, there's more than that?
AS: Hmm.
True.
What is really interesting is the ample space that is left opened.
As much as the lighting tubes have an organic shape (which I'm assuming is rather difficult to make), but, the light reaches to all the crevices around the area.
It makes you question light and how far it reaches, doesn't it?
TTUS: Yes, modern technology. 🙄
AS: Seriously, look how well lit this is!
👇 That's the other side. It's broad day light.
AS: Ugh I'm walking towards these creepy black boxes now. 😳
TTUS: Yes, let's towards boxes.
Doesn't make me uncomfortable or anything.
AS: Ok to be fair, usually when they're immersive environments, it is necessary for the space to be highly highly manipulated and controlled.
So it make sense for them to build specific dimensions to house whatever the desired effects are.
TTUS: Literally not at all paying attention to you.
There's a person standing/guarding this.
What is she saying to us in Italian?
AS: We need to put shower caps on our shoes..
Hmm..
TTUS: Red.
AS: True.
Very red.
And small
And carpet
TTUS: Can we walk through this?
AS: I honestly have no idea.
So, I'll take a few steps and then if the guard yells at me then we know it's a no.
TTUS: Good plan.
And no one said anything, but what are you looking at in this sea of red?
AS: Oh you know.
1:How the carpet feels against the bottom of my feet.
2:The scale of the piece.
Do I feel like a giant?
-yes
Am I scared of banging my head onto the top?
-yes
3:What are these plexi pieces to be?
TTUS: What is it supposed to be?
AS: No idea.
TTUS: Time to go then.
TTUS: OOOOOO GREEN.
AS: Why are you always so helpful in identifying what you see?
TTUS: I try. 😏
AS: This almost gives me a toothache.
Maybe it's the radio activity in the neon?
It also hurts my head a little.
But definitely worth it in the name of art.
The thin tubes are layered thusly creating an almost see through ceiling.
TTUS: Thusly huh?
AS: 🙄
Just look up.
That's all you need to do.
In conclusion: The show is beautiful.
It is everything the title suggests: environment.
In environments, it is essential to have some sort of sensory experience.
Which this exhibition absolutely achieved.
Task: Must come back multiple times before the show closes.
Task task: Always always look up.
