Palindrome|emordnilaP

My thesis exhibition, which completed my MFA at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, created an immersive experience by staging several light-based sculptural works within a darkened space.  The entire gallery was transformed by covering the walls in black paper and constructing temporary walls, which were also painted black, in the space in order to conceal certain parts from view until the viewer entered further into the space.  

There are three main sections to the exhibit.  The first thing that viewers encountered within the room was an illuminated doorway.  From the entrance this appeared to be the only thing in the room, and when the viewer passed underneath the light their reflection would be cast among hundreds of small black reflective panels suspended inside, forming an abstract nebula out of their own image.  When they turned to exit this small tunnel they would be able to see the second portion, which had been hidden behind a wall from their previous vantage point.  

In this area were six pillar form suspended about 18 inches off the ground.  A light inside these pillars shone through a dense weave of fibers and reflected off of a black plexiglass surface on the floor.  The pillars were hung low enough that the insides were almost impossible to view, the only way that the complex interior structure could be observed was through the reflection on the floor.  Small stools lined the wall, and if the viewer discovered them could sit and observe for a long span of time, if so desired.

After passing through this area with the pillars, a third area could be discovered down a narrow hallway toward the back.  It contained a brightly backlit panel covered with a colored pattern.  Opposite this panel was an array of black plexiglass pieces to catch the reflection, and as the viewer passed through the space between they could observe the changes that occurred between the two interacting spaces, and also see themselves exist within the space as well.

There are many ideas at play and plenty to analyze about what is happening within the installation, but the central idea of the work is that it requires the viewer to slow down and be an active observer.  The pieces are intentionally designed to be slightly difficult to find and appreciate, but for those that remain dedicated to exploring the space space there is continually more and more to discover.  

Below is some video documentation to create a more well-rounded understanding of the exhibit, as many aspects of the work are hard to capture with still imagery.

Palindrome animation from Matt Kuhlman on Vimeo.