So I’ve been to see Olafur Eliasson’s Weather Project at Tate Modern twice now. It is rather beautiful. But what quickly became more interesting than ‘the sun’ itself – to me anyway – is the reaction of people to the project. I haven’t seen many pictures of people – perhaps because the sun’s so photogenic – which I find that odd, given how it’s such an inclusive artwork, and people’s performance in that space is so much of the piece itself, and genuinely interesting.
First of all, the light Eliasson’s created is really interesting:
"Generally used in street lighting, mono-frequency lamps emit light at such a narrow frequency that colours other than yellow and black are invisible, thus transforming the visual field around the sun into a vast duotone landscape." [From Tate Modern: About the installation]
I soon decided to switch my flash off, preferring the slightly fuzzier, but warmer light my digital camera sought out. The faint mist pervading the space softens the edges of all but the most direct silhouettes, and the limited light means that some of the images are blurred or ghosted – but I like this effect. It looks how it felt, if you see what I mean.
First people stand and stare, wandering down the ramp of the turbine hall, barely able to believe their eyes, taking in the warm colours and misty atmosphere, drawn towards the sun (click these thumbnails for larger versions):
Slowly they look up and realise the ceiling is mirrored, increasing the ‘height’ of the turbine hall:
People start to point and wave, trying to spot themselves, or simply stand and stare, lost in contemplation:
They sit down, gathering in groups as if basking in front of the sun, taking photos of each other, having picnics:
Eventually, many end up lying on their backs – it’s been suggested they’re sunbathing 😉 However, what’s going on is more akin to a gentle exhibitionism, people contorting themselves into shapes discernible on the reflected ceiling, tiny children copying their waving parents without realising what a reflection is, groups forming impromptu star shapes:
Strikes me that Eliasson’s premise that people in Britain continually talk about the weather (part of the ‘rationale’ for this particular work) is fine, and probably true, but what the piece actually highlighted to me is people’s relationship with their self-image, and perhaps even a mass(ive) desire to perform in public on several levels – both to be part of a crowd and to be individually reflexive.
fine
When I went to see the Weather Project with
some friends, we spent some time looking
at the sun and then took off into the main
gallery. Having arranged to meet up with
the others at the entrance to the Turbine
Hall, I found myself walking back through
the hall on my own (alone, but for a few
hundred other people).
Looking up briefly, I realised that there
was more than enough light to allow me to
pick myself out as I walked through the
crowd. So, I then walked the entire
length of the turbine hall looking at the
ceiling, and managed to avoid walking
into a single person. There were a few
people who clearly thought I couldn’t see
where I was going, and would move to one
side – so, naturally I also moved in the same
direction, then darted aside and around
them when they (inevitably) stopped in
confusion. Most amusing; 😉
what you feel is what you get [grid::brand]
This is deliberately not thought through. I don’t agree with it all. Please argue at length. I’ve been doing the obvious navel gazing recently of trying to figure out exactly what I do – which recently people have called interaction design. This is the…
Very interesting take on ‘The Weather Project’ as civic space here:
Designing for Civil Society: Engagement takes many forms
[via Tom – thanks!]
My pics and comments linked from:
http://www.damianradcliffe.com/archive/000444.html
if you’ve not been and checked out the temporary visage of St Paul’s then do – I htink you’ll like it… (they do this kind of thing in Europe all the time apparantly…)
Nature Space Society: Manuel DeLanda
Event at the Tate Modern [via RodCorp]: “The Institute for Meteorological Mediation is part of Olafur Eliasson’s The Weather Project….
The Weather Project, The Tate Modern
‘The Weather Project’ is an exhibition by Olafur Eliasson. The walls of the gallery are bare and the ceiling is tiled with mirrors. At one end of the hall is a massive semicircular translucent disc, illuminated from behind with the same s…
Links originally sent to this post from other sites (before I turned trackbacks off due to spam)
» what you feel is what you get [grid::brand] from anti-mega
This is deliberately not thought through. I don’t agree with it all. Please argue at length. I’ve been doing the obvious navel gazing recently of trying to figure out exactly what I do – which recently people have called interaction design. This is the… [Read More]
» Nature Space Society: Manuel DeLanda from Blackbeltjones Work
Event at the Tate Modern [via RodCorp]: “The Institute for Meteorological Mediation is part of Olafur Eliasson’s The Weather Project…. [Read More]
» The Weather Project, The Tate Modern from Diarmuids Blog
‘The Weather Project’ is an exhibition by Olafur Eliasson. The walls of the gallery are bare and the ceiling is tiled with mirrors. At one end of the hall is a massive semicircular translucent disc, illuminated from behind with the same s… [Read More]