Irisation Field by Maria Gaspar & Alexander Eisenschmidt May 25, 2011 Irisation Field is a durational event that engages hundreds and thousands of people. It takes place in bleak locations of the city, like vacant lots or abandoned public spaces. It is comprised of a series of abstracted forms that resemble morphed parade floats. They are brown in color resembling a living, breathing body. These structures serve both functional and symbolic purposes by providing shade or recreational space for communities, demanding the participation of a group of people for its control and release into the city sky and ultimately it unites participants through a series of interactions. An event might go something like this: They worked really hard on it‐ the hardest in a long time. They tied it in the right places. Some areas would deflate every once in a while, but they were able to repair it before it turned into a great disaster. It was an extraordinary event. The crowd reacted with awe and pride upon its arrival. It was made of plastic and cloth and paraded down the main street for all to witness. There were about 100 people holding the front, middle and back parts. About 30 people carried the front alone. Kids stood on the side of the street eating candy and frozen ice‐cream, while some sat anxiously on the curb. It was about the size of a house. Not just any house, but a large one. So large that it created a shadow on most of the street. The windy day made it difficult to control. The people had to hold on very tight. There was no letting go. If someone were swept to the side by the massive weight and power of it, a crowd member would run to their aid and help take control. That was the best part. It finally brought the people together. Irisation Field’s inflated forms hover over desolate landscapes, activating these areas into potential social spaces. The preparation consists of an inflation process with a team of volunteers to securely tether the forms to the ground. Once installed, viewers will be able to celebrate the arrival of the hovering mass of cloud‐like shapes. Each form is made of transparent materials that are viewed from and inhabited in various positions. During daytime hours, the sunshine allows viewers to experience a translucent glow, at the same time providing sunshade. At night, the forms project light positioned at different locations to create the illusion of a glowing nocturnal sky, which can be experienced from below or from a distance. Viewers are drawn to the floating forms and interact with them. They may rest on them, sit or lie underneath these hovering shapes. They may even envision them as creatures, temporarily placed in their local park space or desolate lot. They can be interpreted freely and inventively. After the allotted time, the de‐installation will consist of the parading of these magnificent forms. This final event will become an all day celebration, where invited community members and guests will have the chance to participate. The forms will then be released into the city sky.
Irisation Field by Maria Gaspar & Alexander Eisenschmidt May 25, 2011 Irisation Field is a durational event that engages hundreds and thousands of people. It takes place in bleak locations of the city, like vacant lots or abandoned public spaces. It is comprised of a series of abstracted forms that resemble morphed parade floats. They are brown in color resembling a living, breathing body. These structures serve both functional and symbolic purposes by providing shade or recreational space for communities, demanding the participation of a group of people for its control and release into the city sky and ultimately it unites participants through a series of interactions. An event might go something like this: They worked really hard on it‐ the hardest in a long time. They tied it in the right places. Some areas would deflate every once in a while, but they were able to repair it before it turned into a great disaster. It was an extraordinary event. The crowd reacted with awe and pride upon its arrival. It was made of plastic and cloth and paraded down the main street for all to witness. There were about 100 people holding the front, middle and back parts. About 30 people carried the front alone. Kids stood on the side of the street eating candy and frozen ice‐cream, while some sat anxiously on the curb. It was about the size of a house. Not just any house, but a large one. So large that it created a shadow on most of the street. The windy day made it difficult to control. The people had to hold on very tight. There was no letting go. If someone were swept to the side by the massive weight and power of it, a crowd member would run to their aid and help take control. That was the best part. It finally brought the people together. Irisation Field’s inflated forms hover over desolate landscapes, activating these areas into potential social spaces. The preparation consists of an inflation process with a team of volunteers to securely tether the forms to the ground. Once installed, viewers will be able to celebrate the arrival of the hovering mass of cloud‐like shapes. Each form is made of transparent materials that are viewed from and inhabited in various positions. During daytime hours, the sunshine allows viewers to experience a translucent glow, at the same time providing sunshade. At night, the forms project light positioned at different locations to create the illusion of a glowing nocturnal sky, which can be experienced from below or from a distance. Viewers are drawn to the floating forms and interact with them. They may rest on them, sit or lie underneath these hovering shapes. They may even envision them as creatures, temporarily placed in their local park space or desolate lot. They can be interpreted freely and inventively. After the allotted time, the de‐installation will consist of the parading of these magnificent forms. This final event will become an all day celebration, where invited community members and guests will have the chance to participate. The forms will then be released into the city sky.