Luminous mannequins tell tales
By Qu Zhi |
May 21, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
VISITORS can touch, embrace and talk to a group of phosphorescent mannequins, who respond in Chinese and tell their stories in an interactive installation at Sinan Mansions from Thursday through Sunday.
The installation, "The Standing Men," is comprised of tall luminous human figures lighted pink and blue and other colors. They hail passersby and light up when they are touched; they respond to words with their own words, lights and colors.
They talk about the difficult life of North African immigrants in France.
The work was created by three French designers who were shocked to see police in Lyon roust and toss illegal squatters from North Africa into the street.
"We decided to give them back their place and to offer them a space to tell their stories, which is quite unknown, and their life experience," says Pierre Amoudruz, one of the designers, who was joined by Valentin Durif and Victor Roux.
"The idea of revealing some untold feelings, of freeing expression and sharing it, was born this way. So we started to use our skills in light, sound, design and programming," Amoudruz says.
In France, the immigrants from the Maghreb are known as shibani, or standing men, because they usually life without a roof over their heads.
Instead of being a spectator, the audience touches and engages in a tactile dialogue with luminous beings and gets feedback.
All the mannequins are the same generic male - they look like anyone and everyone.
"Yes, in appearance, we are all the same and we can easily make generalizations about minorities," Amoudruz says. "But take some time to meet each person and you will see how different they are, how rich."
Also, this installation showcases how people behave in front of robots. Some hug, kiss or cuddle with "plastic dummies."
The designers say that the audience typically does not touch an art work or installation and say that are is "overprotected." Here, visitors can interact.
"It's more like an individual and collective game with the aesthetic experience," the designer adds.
Date: May 23-26, all day
Admission: Free
Venue: Sinan Mansions, 55 Sinan Rd
The installation, "The Standing Men," is comprised of tall luminous human figures lighted pink and blue and other colors. They hail passersby and light up when they are touched; they respond to words with their own words, lights and colors.
They talk about the difficult life of North African immigrants in France.
The work was created by three French designers who were shocked to see police in Lyon roust and toss illegal squatters from North Africa into the street.
"We decided to give them back their place and to offer them a space to tell their stories, which is quite unknown, and their life experience," says Pierre Amoudruz, one of the designers, who was joined by Valentin Durif and Victor Roux.
"The idea of revealing some untold feelings, of freeing expression and sharing it, was born this way. So we started to use our skills in light, sound, design and programming," Amoudruz says.
In France, the immigrants from the Maghreb are known as shibani, or standing men, because they usually life without a roof over their heads.
Instead of being a spectator, the audience touches and engages in a tactile dialogue with luminous beings and gets feedback.
All the mannequins are the same generic male - they look like anyone and everyone.
"Yes, in appearance, we are all the same and we can easily make generalizations about minorities," Amoudruz says. "But take some time to meet each person and you will see how different they are, how rich."
Also, this installation showcases how people behave in front of robots. Some hug, kiss or cuddle with "plastic dummies."
The designers say that the audience typically does not touch an art work or installation and say that are is "overprotected." Here, visitors can interact.
"It's more like an individual and collective game with the aesthetic experience," the designer adds.
Date: May 23-26, all day
Admission: Free
Venue: Sinan Mansions, 55 Sinan Rd
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
