PRESENT PACKAGED
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Present Packages was a site specific explosive installation created for ALMA, a contemporary arts event held at The Alma, a derelict public house in the heart of the East End, this unique event allowed the artists to each take over one floor and breathe life and fire into the building one more time before it was razed to the ground for development.
ALMA was conceived as a unique opportunity to bringing diverse multi-disciplinary practitioners together to display their video, movement, installation and explosive works over four separate floors in this inspiring Victorian building. At once visual art exhibition, performance space and experimental playground for the artists. The public were invited to wander through the building and experience ambitious works presented in the context of its crumbling frame.
Present Packaged was realised on the first floor of the building. Using the footprint of the largest room, where many of the interior walls had already been torn down, as the structural starting point the artist hung seventy two delicate botanical shapes constructed of copper. Each contained a muslin package of spices and herbs sourced from Brick Lane market. Over the two days of the exhibition the Installation of small copper pods of seeds and spices sourced on Brick Lane exploded allowing their contents to fall to the floor bringing to mind the colourful Rangoli designs created with friends at Diwali during the artists childhood. Rangoli is a Hindu tradition used during religious events, or to mark an auspicious occasion such as celebrating the opening of a building or a special event. It is an artistic expression often shared with westerners and used to encourage acceptance and dialogue between cultures. Influenced both by chaos and order, the combination of the purposeful positioning of the pods and the random behaviour of the explosions will determine the fete of the design. Inspired by the wisteria pod and other exploding seeds, these packages, so full of flavour, smells, stories, of crossing of cultures, of history, immigration, of ancient trade, of colonisation, of family and memories, tell part of the story of the history of the area, and cultural present of the space and place the Alma occupies.
Artists: Aoife van Linden Tol, Sean Rogg, Gui Pondé, Ana Lumack and We Are Alma, a performance collective formed as a direct response to the project.
ALMA was conceived as a unique opportunity to bringing diverse multi-disciplinary practitioners together to display their video, movement, installation and explosive works over four separate floors in this inspiring Victorian building. At once visual art exhibition, performance space and experimental playground for the artists. The public were invited to wander through the building and experience ambitious works presented in the context of its crumbling frame.
Present Packaged was realised on the first floor of the building. Using the footprint of the largest room, where many of the interior walls had already been torn down, as the structural starting point the artist hung seventy two delicate botanical shapes constructed of copper. Each contained a muslin package of spices and herbs sourced from Brick Lane market. Over the two days of the exhibition the Installation of small copper pods of seeds and spices sourced on Brick Lane exploded allowing their contents to fall to the floor bringing to mind the colourful Rangoli designs created with friends at Diwali during the artists childhood. Rangoli is a Hindu tradition used during religious events, or to mark an auspicious occasion such as celebrating the opening of a building or a special event. It is an artistic expression often shared with westerners and used to encourage acceptance and dialogue between cultures. Influenced both by chaos and order, the combination of the purposeful positioning of the pods and the random behaviour of the explosions will determine the fete of the design. Inspired by the wisteria pod and other exploding seeds, these packages, so full of flavour, smells, stories, of crossing of cultures, of history, immigration, of ancient trade, of colonisation, of family and memories, tell part of the story of the history of the area, and cultural present of the space and place the Alma occupies.
Artists: Aoife van Linden Tol, Sean Rogg, Gui Pondé, Ana Lumack and We Are Alma, a performance collective formed as a direct response to the project.
WARNING
Please beware of uneven surfaces when moving around the building. There will be fire and smoke.
For your own safety, please keep your distance from the explosive installation
as instructed AT ALL TIMES. If the smoke becomes uncomfortable you will be allowed to leave.
If you are asthmatic please inform the steward and follow their advice.
Materials may be used in the installation which could stain garments.
Please beware of uneven surfaces when moving around the building. There will be fire and smoke.
For your own safety, please keep your distance from the explosive installation
as instructed AT ALL TIMES. If the smoke becomes uncomfortable you will be allowed to leave.
If you are asthmatic please inform the steward and follow their advice.
Materials may be used in the installation which could stain garments.
