Project 3: Idea generation and Inspirations

While exploring the idea of having two strangers in the gallery, I thought it would be a good idea to create an atmosphere for the gallery space first before finalizing the design of the sleeping platfrom. Thus ideas for the gallery space were generated in an attempt to explore the idea of SLEEP/WAKE. I first wanted the gallery space to be otherworldly, like that of the dream so it looks obscure from the outside. I wanted the dream platform to be the only thing that makes sense in the gallery space, so that within the uncertainty, the strangers seek for something familiar (through the act of sleeping). Thus making the transition between sleep and wake unclear. My initial aim was to breakdown the boundary between sleep and wake, they I thought they are inseparate.

After a series of ideas, I decided to go back to my previous projects and the idea of inviting two strangers to the gallery space. My first project focused on dream and certainty through light and dark. My main point was that the two states, sleep and wake, is somewhat linked and are not totally isolated, as dream is a compilation of experiences. The second project focused on openness and obscurity mainly through flora. The key point was that boundary between private space and public space is unclear.

I want to bring in elements from both projects into my third, somewhat applying those ideas with the concept of having two strangers in the gallery. So, what do I want the strangers to experience during their stay?

I want the strangers to be travellers, as I enjoy travelling myself. I believe where you stay during your trip takes up a huge part of your journey, as it is often the first thing you do after you book up your flight. You want your travel experience to be unique, while being able to enjoy what the travel destination offers. If you are travelling by yourself, that often means you have a great chance of meeting new people, as you decide to stay at backpackers or other accomodations with shared sleeping space.

I want the travellers to be able to freely interact, or create a space that encourages them to interact. At the same time, I want the travellers to still have the option of privacy as well, as I want the interaction to be their decision, not a forced one. How can I encourage interaction between two strangers? What do they have in common? What medium can I incorporate?

The obvious connection between the strangers, being travellers, would probably be that they enjoy travelling. Often I find that travellers are excellent photographers, as they frequently record their journey. Photos are also a great way to let individuals indirectly travel places they have not been before, which I thought was a great way of encouraging the strangers to interact.

Then I thought of Photo Laundry, an outdoor photoexhibition, that I have attended earlier last year. Photo Laundry encourages anyone, who has interest in photography, to bring in their photos and in turn take photos of others they like. I thought this was an excellent system for travellers to share their travel photos, as well as having something physical to keep so the experience at the gallery remains in their mind for a long time.

Some of the photos I brought from the Photo Laundry event had short stories written at the back of the photos. So I extended to medium from photos to having books in the gallery space as well. If the travellers each bring in a book and/or a photo into the space, the space over time will gradually fill up with stories.

Having books in the gallery was also inspired by the Ark Booktower introduced in the book Small Architecture, by Philip Jodidio. I aim to make shelves as tall as the height of the gallery space so that once the shelves are filled with books, the gallery space slowly converges from a more public looking space to a private looking space, as well as having more stories told.