Moments of Reflection
Diversion aims to capture the essence of parallel worlds within Fort Lane through science fiction qualities such as reflection, materiality and tone. With a changing scale that mimics the dip of the site this installation is made up of a series of half-door like panels reflected in a backing wall to create the illusion of a series of complete doorways. It interrupts the natural flow of pedestrians and invites moments of pause and reflection, enveloping the viewer and encouraging them to consider what could exist in the world around us, alongside us.
I was inspired by an image sequence taken at the site which featured a spliced effect, reminding me of alternate worlds or realities, the same space but each slightly different. The reflective materiality used helps to convey this through the design, placing an emphasises the scale of the site whilst creating a series of infinity spaces throughout. As pedestrians move through the lane there is a reflection either side, moving with them. I think of these as being parallel versions of the viewer however the angled walls and intersecting panels constantly splice and edit the reflected image. In this way the design causes the viewer to question the reality around them.
The materiality of my design focuses on a sense of dark reflection, playing on the drama and unknown nature of sci-fi but also to reflect the existing feel of the site; a little unnerving. The panels and the backing walls are constructed out of black gloss acrylic. They reflect what is in the site but from a distance approaching the lane, the reflective element would not be as noticeable. At night, solar charged LED lighting enhances the space, adding colour and a sense of safety in amongst the darkness. Shades of blue were chosen to incorporate the daytime sky featured in the original image sequence
A main feature of the design is the angled and concave walls. These help distort the reflections within the site, reflecting as you approach or walk away instead of directly reflecting to the side. They bring the taller elements of the site down to eye level and help us to see the unnoticed aspects of the site that exist parallel to the known. Several concave walls within the design further alter our perception by flipping the reflected image, prompting viewers to double take, pause, reflect.
Within the design I created some variation from what is otherwise an installation made up of solid, flat surfaces through detailing certain aspects such as the panels. They are made up of a series of thin pieces spaced evenly apart that allow light through but also create small glimpses of the space behind as you move through the site, again tying back into the splicing seen in the image sequence.
Another aspect of the design is the outlook it creates for businesses along the lane. Extending the threshold spaces, guests are met with lighting and reflection creating viewpoints of the lane otherwise invisible from inside. A view of a different reality from the space in which they currently are.
My hope is that this installation creates a more dynamic experience when passing through Fort Lane and provokes thought about what else could be there, barely visible, in the spaces around. What would one find if those door-like reflections were real, where would that door lead you, and where do those reflections of you go once you leave the lane?
