DIY
I chose Composition VIII for the DIY installation because the different segments of the canvas are constructed from base shapes that could be manipulated freely and easily by a member of the public without them having to draw something themselves. I was really keen to avoid asking people to draw things as part of the DIY process, not because drawing is a bad way to explore Kandinksy, but there are other, more three dimensional ways to do the same thing. It also removes the possibility of anxiety concerning one’s artistic ability in a way that means anyone can create art without the fear of being judged for their creation.
Sourced Image
I decided to base this part of the project on an exercise we took part in during first year that pushed us to play with the space by suspending umbrellas from elasticated ropes. What fascinated me was that although the objects we were given were set and we couldn’t swap them out, we could change their position and how they were lit, which created many different opportunities for images, all very varied but linked by the items within them. I felt as though a similar experiment could be performed on Kandinsky’s work due to it being composed of multiple different shapes, the audience would be able to create their own pieces, however they would still be in the style of Kandinsky thanks to the shapes and forms used being the same.
The design itself consists of three main interactive elements, which together combine to make a final image on the wall at the end of the room. Nearest to the wall are scaffold bars two metres above the ground, running parallel to the wall, at intervals of one foot. Audience members can hang three dimensional elements from the painting on these bars and their shadows will produce images on the wall. At the opposite end of the room are two OH projectors, which have a number of two dimensional elements from the painting, made from coloured gels which are projected over the shadows. Finally there is a lighting console which is linked to several profile fixtures containing gobos of more segments from the painting, all angled at the final canvas. Audience members can choose which of these to turn on or off.
