PROPOSAL:
This proposal makes a direct response to Nicola Formichetti’sbrief to create four distinct spaces reflecting four themes of his work, namely NATURE, DIGITAL, MINIMALIST and PUNK BAROQUE. The concept also draws on Nicola’s use of digital media to engage with the public both as a means of sharing his work and being inspired by others.
AMBITION:
The ambition is to create an exciting, unexpected series of spaces the character of which are defined by the many themes of Nicola’s work. The intention is to allow the work and the inspiration drawn upon in the creation of that work to define the character of the physical space in which it is displayed.
THE SPACES:
The windows and doors of the existing space at 57 Walker St will be blacked out to eliminate natural light within the space and the walls and ceiling will be painted matt black. The existing space will otherwise be left in shell condition and within this space four interlinked rectangular rooms will be constructed in a semi-opaque fabric on a tensile structure. The four spaces are identical in materiality but vary in scale and proportion and each space contains only a few items of furniture and display pieces required to display the garments.
Each room has four walls, behind each of which a digital projector is mounted facing inwards casting its light across the full surface of one wall. The walls are constructed in a semi-opaque, lightweight fabric stretched taught across the room’s structure. The nature of the fabric means that the walls act as rear projector screens where light or images projected onto the reverse of these walls can be viewed from within the room. The four projectors serving each room are inter-linked and fed information from a PC which divides and combines information to create seamless images which cover all the walls in that space. The ceiling of each space is mirrored, reflecting the image on the walls to create a wholly immersive space which is transformed in character as the image changes.
DISPLAY INFORMATION:
Information to be displayed within each room will be in video, audio, still image or written word format and will come from one or more of three possible sources:
Nicola Formichetti’s own submission
Nicola and his team will be asked to provide a range of information displaying his work and his inspiration in a variety of formats for display within the spaces. The work should be collated and categorised to follow the four principle themes of Nature, Digital, Minimal and Punk Baroque.
Submissions from collaborators and followers
Nicola’s collaborators and followers will be invited to contribute work for display within the space which they feel represents the four principle themes in some way. This work will be submitted prior to and during the event via an online portal or email account.
Live information drawn from the internet
Before and during the installation information will be drawn directly from internet sources such as google, youtube, twitter, flickr, panoramio, facebook, tumblretc. using the four principle themes as search keywords. Prior to the installation the search terms and the information sources will be trialled, defined and agreed to ensure the results are in line with Nicola’s desires for the space.
The combination of information received from these sources means there will be a broad variety of controlled, semi controlled and uncontrolled pictorial, video, textual and audio information displayed within the four spaces. The displayed information will change frequently and will be pulled at random from each of the sources resulting in an ever-changing unpredictable and surprising environment. The character of each of the four spaces will be defined by the information displayed and this character will relate directly or indirectly to the work on display within that space. For example where one moment the MINIMAL room might be characterised by the display of paintings by a minimalist artist such as Alison Watt or Richard Wright a moment later it may be defined by a video depicting the minimalist nature of Nicola’s work or a piece of minimalist music composed and submitted by a musician especially for the occasion and submitted online. The neighbouring PUNK BAROQUE room will inevitably be very different in character drawing a variety of punk baroque themed images video text and sound as will the NATURE and DIGITAL rooms. Visitors can walk freely between the spaces and view the garments and pieces on display.
RETAIL OPERATIONS:
The garments will be collated following the four principal themes and will be arranged within the spaces using a combination of techniques as required. Minimal clothes rails will be suspended from the ceiling structure on tension cables while display tables and benches will be freestanding in the spaces. Purchases can be made at a manned counter in the NATURE room, which is nearest the exit and entry point. The VIP room is accessed through the final, PUNK BAROQUE room and changing facilities are also provided within an existing store cupboard at this point. The space is suited to a variety of social and cultural events with integrated sound and video as the multimedia facilities can be used to broadcast talks or lectures throughout all of the spaces using the walls as video screens.
