Pitching Your Design Proposal

In my project, I am focusing on the cinematic techniques of scene transition through the use of lighting, shadow and projection to communicate and represent the transition from life to death. This will be executed through an installation walkthrough experience through the laneway of Auckland’s Fort Lane.

I know that I want to prompt the internalisation of life and death in a public space, considering cinematic and artistic techniques which reflect existential philosophies, to inspire the young generation to live a more fulfilling life.

The aging of the site has prompted questions in me as a designer, of how architecture weathers over time and how these structures can be far more permanent that our individual mortal lives. The insight into the site history- and the mystery of this, as well as the present state of Fort Lane and the possible future happenings of the site, has prompted questions in me of our life cycles in relation to the designs and architecture established in our city today. In addition, the positioning of the sun on the site has showed a stark contrast of dark to light at different times of the day- and the transformation of the atmosphere at night highlights this contrast. I am using life and death as symbolism of this sequence transition.

I think the biggest influence any designer, philosopher, or njkn has over a population is to the younger generations with the potential to have a change of mindset and drive for change to better our society. My design proposal intends to target the young generation, specifically those just out of high school and starting their adult carriers or tertiary studies. Considering the use of the site at night-time with the multitude of bars and night clubs on the site, I hope to influence this community by inspiring them to live a more fulfilled life by not fearing death. There are many philosophers I am inspired and influenced by which give me the realisation which pushes my life massively with a positive change in mindset.

I used multiple cinematic devices to document Fort Lane. These included holographic tubing, transparent acrylic sheet, circular mirror, and pink cellophane. The start contrast between my day to night Sequence has informed the concept of my project through the shift in atmosphere it represents. In addition, the mirror I used in the night sequence has informed the concept of parallel lifetimes and tease the idea of a possible afterlife or that we may be repeating our lifecycles time and time again. With life comes death and with death comes new life.

My proposed design activates the site as a public space as it enhances public life through immersive and potential interactive installations. It brings people together to go through either their own or shared journey with others- and they may connect with one another as they analyse the introspective concept of my design. I may provoke fearful emotions or positive one, but through the reaction of the public I am activating the site through this challenging installation.

I am using poetic scripting to programme my design over time. In this way, my project will be very conceptual and introspective which aims to challenge individual public thought on the meaning of life and how one can alter their mind set to not look at death as an evil, but as something that should not be feared. It is simply part of the universe and is a return to nature from which we stem from.

I will be using surface conditions which have been weathered and aged over time- such as rust on the metalwork in this laneway zone, and the strip of lighting which runs above us to lead the narrative of aging, and life and death.

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Formative Presentation

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The Script

Slide 1: Title

Till Death Do Us Part: An immersive installation journey through Auckland’s Fort Lane

Slide 2: Keywords

The sequential transition from day to night is a constant reminder of the perpetual, monogamous routine of life. Like the day to the night, our lives are but a setting sun. But what dreams may come when we are awoken to the realisation of inevitable death. Do we run and cower? Take arms against the unmovable fate? Or open our eyes to seize each finite day as an opportunity for a brighter tomorrow. . 

Slide 3: Philosophies

Existentialist theories have driven the concept of my project. To ponder our own existence and the meaning of life, is to make authentic existence possible. These four philosophers have intriguing views on death and acceptance which I find quite grounding. Epicurus Stated that “If I am, then death is not. If Death is, then I am not. Why should I fear that which can only exist when I do not?” 

Slide 4: Artists

I am inspired by the installations of James Turrell and Olafur Eliasson. Their use of colour harmony is and contrast is very impactful. I’m also inspired by the digital art from Niyi Okeowo. Particularly the geometry and forms he uses to frame and compose his art pieces

Slide 5: Site Documentation

The aging of the site has prompted questions in me as a designer, of how architecture weathers over time and how these structures can be far more permanent than our individual lives. My research into the site’s history, the current purpose of the space and the speculative future has prompted an intrigue of my life span in comparison to the architecture established in our city today. 

Slide 6: Concept

I am proposing a light installation for Auckland’s Fort Lane which will take the public on an immersive journey through a sequence of transitional experiences and thresholds. It aims to prompt the internalisation of life and death among the younger generations. 

I plan to use effective colour,  light, shadow, projection, reflection, screens and mirroring and use the theme of the setting sun as a metaphor for death.

Slide 7: Day time sequence Images

I used multiple cinematic devices to document Fort Lane. These included holographic tubing, transparent acrylic sheet, circular mirror, and pink cellophane. The stark contrast between my day to night Sequence has informed the concept of my project through the shift in atmosphere it represents.

Slide 8: Night Time Sequence images

The mirror I used to create the night sequence teases the idea that we may be repeating our life cycles time and time again. With life comes death and with death comes new life.

Slide 9: Transitional  Models

The  shapes and patterns projected and materialised through my transitional models communicate the battle between light and dark, life and death. The shadows it casts reflect the the sites concrete jungle skyline, communicating the lasting presence of buildings in time. 

Slide 10: Surface Design

My iterative surface designs explore a transition of colour as well as, texture to symbolise life, projection to create atmospheric qualities, and the process of squish painting was relevant to my concept of merging life and death to this limbo in between. 

So I prompt to you, is death nothing but a return to nature? Or is it a gateway to a parallel experience?

Feedback and Reflection

Carl told me that my design process was interesting. My material and model experimentation had various different atmospheres and ideas. It would be best for me to take one of my models or surface designs and run with it to create a string and cohesive concept. My transitional models effectively communicate my concept and may be a good way to develop the project. I am interested in light, shadow, projection and reflection so I could draw from my insights and material testing of surface designs to project and manipulate light to create an intangible surface design.

I’d like to look into more of Olafur Eliason’s light installations to better conceptualize my project, considering the movement and flow of the laneway, so I can start to map out the space and create these series of thresholds and experiences. I will need to effectively communicate contrast and change – an atmospheric transitional sequence to symbolize the life to death concept. I also need to delve into human psychology and ask myself how I can prompt questions to the public viewers.