In Progress…

Bonisteel library installation

Installed April 2022

Overview

This installation is one of the last projects concluding my time at Interlochen. Since last November, I have been planning a project with an emphasis on the act of wandering, and ended up with something very much open-ended. 

    During the project, I tried to learn as much as possible about the library. Many thanks to Leland(the librarian) for spending the time with me discussing the space, what it is meant for, and the importance of such a place. I would also like to thank the people who took their time filling out a survey that I have about the library in the early phase of the project. This information informed every decision I made throughout the process. 

    In the end, I wandered. 

    “Always “In Progress…”, the library project evolved, starting with a wrapped shelf to turn into a cloud-like fabric installation. The see-through, mesh-like quality of the turquoise fabric connected to the ceiling shapes around the upper landscape allows for one to put themselves up there and have some fun creating their own thoughts.”

    Special shoutout to the Visual Arts faculties for helping me in any way that they can, connecting me to the right people, chatting with me about the project, and allowing me to do things like this. 

    For the installation of the project, I am grateful and would like to say thank you to the people from DP for spending the time coming over, operating the lifter, and helping me hang the fabric up. 

Extra information

Scattered writings

Collecting information

    Before my exploration of the library, I collected around 300 responses from people in the school about their interaction with the library through a weekly community meeting, and was informed on multiple perspectives from students and faculty. 

Main goal

From there, the goal was to make the experience of going to the library more inviting. Starting with a shelving unit located in a heavy traffic area, by using cooler tones associated with nature(big open water), and covering the gap of books, the installation is supposed to uplift people’s mood, creating a contrast with the brown tone of the environment, while bringing out the subconscious composition librarians created with books on the shelves.

About placement

Using yarn and large pieces of fabrics, I strive to create a way-finding installation that showcases the connection between different parts of the library, leading the viewer’s eyes from one point to another. Each 9’ by 9’ fabric cut is placed and hung strategically according to the location’s purpose and surrounding elevation. In a tree-like way, the overlapping of fabric seen from certain angles is similar to the congregated composition that leaves create.

Materials

For the fabric, I chose tulle, a see-through, mesh-like fabric. The transparency, patterns, and scratchy feeling of the fabric reminded me of the mosquito net I had back home.

When learning and trying something new, one can feel a sense of discomfort. I see the fabric as a hammock where one can lean back, unconsciously sensing something is there for them. 

Not growing up around the library, I used to find it hard to navigate around the space, and only see it as a place where books are. The way that I overcome this fear is through wandering the space for a long time, and slowly, a once foreign space now becomes familiar. Reading the response forms I got from the library, there were quite a few mentions on how people feel they are always being watched. Like those privacy curtains, the fabric’s presence provides a sense of assurance.   

Yarn has been a repeating material throughout my body of work. Unlike adhesive, yarn doesn’t have a permanent bond; I find this appealing as it allows the composition to change during the process, and is forgiving when used. Another thing that I love about yarn is its ability to flow through holes, wrap around things, and find links between anything. In my life, working with changing variables, and growing up, I see myself in yarn, always wrapping, extending, and discovering new things.

Color

    In color is where I took the liberty. Like a painting, the swash of turquoise cools down warm space, a feeling that can be compared to flipping the pillow over to the other side in the middle of the night. 

About the interaction project

In turquoise, I

Using the resources, around you, write down your personal connection with turquoise

Share your writing with everyone, or take care of it

Provided with 

Some materials

100 Whites by Kenya Hara

And the library

During my conversation with Leland, one thing that resonated with me was “library as a house passion”. The library contains books from multiple authors who are passionate in their topics. People come to the library to satisfy their passion and curiosity. As a user of the library I have picked up many books that are inspiring and provide me with a wider perspective. The more I learned about something through the books in the library, the deeper love I found for the topic that I am studying. I would say a lot of that love comes from the understanding that there is so much more to learn and to look at. My interaction project’s goal in the library is to show a way of using the knowledge provided in the library, to gain a deeper outlook of the altered surroundings.

Some resources that helped

Wanderlust – Rebecca Solnit

The Participatory Museum – Nina Simon

100 Whites by Kenya Hara

The event of a thread – Ann Hamilton