RE.ad - art installation

KG|TB designed the setting for the TrashFashions annual Fashion Show.
Recognizing the power of transforming trash into raw material, we sought to convert the mundane into the extraordinary, and to offer a new perspective, or a ‘re-reading’ of the objects of excess and waste.
We chose to work with magazines (in keeping with the theme of recycling), a material used and discarded everyday.  The magazines were developed into a unit of construction, or building block, which became the basis of the RE.ad installation.  Through the simple operation of repetition, the single magazine was transformed into architectural elements that defined and organized the space. The method of fabrication selected was related to the function of the architectural element, i.e., the wall was stacked, the ‘quilt’ was stitched.

The Tea Lounge is the heart of the space, defined by the low wall enclosure, Persian rug floor coverings, and low hanging geometric lamps—which all come together to create an intimate space within the expansive room. In addition to being a lounge and promoting social interaction, the space also serves as a prime viewing area for the runway show.

^{‘Moroccan’ Tea Lounge}

^{detail of the low wall defining the ‘Moroccan’ Tea Lounge}

The rigid magazine covers were removed and cut into squares to be used in the lampshades and runway backdrop.  The left-over strips were turned into rolls of consistent diameters that were then used to secure the magazines into tubes. The tubes became a stackable, structural unit of construction for the tea lounge wall.

The site is a raw, vacant factory in Boston’s South End neighborhood.  The central spine of the space, marked with a single row of columns, defines the location of the runway, and the “origami quilt” (or curtain) defines its backdrop.

Inspired by the children’s game called ‘fortune teller’ or ‘cootie catcher’, the magazine covers were folded to replicate that childhood game piece.  Each unit was overlapped and “stitched” together to form a colorful abstract three-dimensional surface. The technique and identification of the material is revealed to the viewer upon close inspection, akin to an impressionist painting. ^{‘cootie catcher’ lamp shades}

extended description (pdf)

Location: At the SoWA Art District
Designers: KG|TB Tali Buchler with Kristen Giannattasio
Photography: Megan Moore

Comments

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