This year, London Design Biennale has positively stepped up a notch by indulging in a multi-sensory design experience. Every installation and project revolves around the year’s theme of ‘Resonance’. The ongoing Biennale is open until 27th June at Somerset House with 30 Nations in participation and several designers providing a profound view on how great design impacts the world for the better and provides hope for the future.
Es Devlin’s ‘Forest for Change’ is conceptualized by the artistic director of the Biennale itself. The forest sits right at the heart of Somerset House and immediately draws the viewer’s attention. It encapsulates four hundred trees, an immersive bird soundscape by musician Brian Eno and colorful mirrored pillars representing the seventeen global goals. The idea behind the installation is to raise awareness about the UN’s Global Goals, creating hope for a better present and future. This immersive installation also encourages the spectator to record his or her own short message, which in turn, will be a part of the music installation that plays in the center clearing.
Taking a cue from its name, ‘Planes of Perception’ compels the spectator to question reality and its perception through forms. This site-specific installation is located on the ground floor in the West Wing of the Palace, creating an architectural intervention on the interior window. There is a sense of geometrical harmony between the installation and the historical building itself. Consequently, Petr Stanický’s installation makes us rethink how we confront space.
The Pavilion of the African Diaspora honors the voices and contributions of the people of the African diaspora. It also acts as a diverse platform for people to exchange stories, participate in talks and build a safe space for respecting all voices in their diversity. This London Design Biennale edition was originally to be held in 2020 and ‘The Sail’was well conceived before that and the Black Lives Matter movement. However, Ini Archibong believes that the connection to BLM and other such movements will create a greater resonance within the masses. First of the triptych, the twenty five feet structure made from sailcloth, acts as a gateway to the past, present and future. The other two will debut in New York and Art Basel Miami respectively, later this year.
At first glance, the surreal golden Olive tree almost feels like a gateway to an enchanted forest. ‘Together’ by Prince Nikolaos is another immersive installation at the Biennale where the illuminated trees, followed by sound recordings from Greek’s natural habitat, creates an aura that abridges a route to mother nature. According to the artist, the pandemic has altered human relationships and encourages us to go back to our roots for inspiration. Consequently, the artist draws parallels between being one with nature and being one within us in this dimmed space, evoking a strong sense of stillness.
This visually stimulating installation highlights global warming and a need for conscious measures to control the situation. ‘Cold Flux’ by Ben Cullen Williams is a three panel; AI generated video installation created from footage filmed on an expedition in Antarctica of the Larsen B-ice shelf. “The ice shelf splintered off from the Antarctic Peninsula in 2002 and has been disintegrating since,” reads an installation statement. The video adds a dimension with a strong soundtrack by British artist Gaika. In an overview, Cold Flux abridges technology, environmental change, and humankind’s relationship with it.
‘Small is Beautiful’ at the India Pavilion is a multi-story narrative that focuses on ecology, sustainability and design. However, the engaging large-scale art installation designed by Nisha Mathew Ghosh could not be a part of LDB due to Covid-19 restrictions in India. “Small is Beautiful hopes to be a catalyst for building the ecosystem for innovation in sustainability, harnessing the power of design to address the critical needs of India and the world today for clean water, clean earth and clean energy” reads an LDB statement.
Few other noteworthy projects at the LDB are Metronome, Stream of Consciousness, Unfolding and Quiet Garden.
Design in the Age of Crisis Gallery features five hundred projects from fifty countries by radical designers. Conclusively, curated talks, interactive and sustainable design ideas, immersive art installations and hope for a better tomorrow forms the ethos for LDB 2021.
“We live in an age of hyper resonance, the consequences of which are both exhilarating and devastating. Everything we design and everything we produce resonates.”
– Es Devlin
Text by Shalini Passi
Image Courtesy: London Design Biennale and the featured Artists
Find more about London Design Biennale:
https://www.londondesignbiennale.com/
https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/london-design-biennale-2021
