Now on an EPIC journey

I’m at this moment attending and exhibiting at the EPIC conference in Copenhagen. It’s set in amazing surroundings at the Uni of Copenhagen and im surrounded by ethnographers, social anthropologists, designers of all strands. The conference theme is (in)visibility. I’m showing The Delphi Party service of the fictitious FATE institute in context of unveiling possible futures of a loved one within a facilitated workshop of friends and family.

Paola & Design and The Elastic Mind on Charlie Rose

The 36th International Invention Convention

The 36th International Exhibition of Invention is currently being held in Geneva and is offering some genuine glimpses into the future! well maybe some left field products for the future that indeed create opportunties to laugh and gasp with delight and fear!

This is Paul Fischer and his Cervical Stretcher: an exercise and therapy device for people with cervical problems.

Via The Guardian

Seeing is Believing @ The Photographers Gallery

Fantastic exhibition at The Photographers Gallery based on Harry Price’s Library of Magical Literature. It presents seven different photographer’s work that deal with the paranormal, the unknown and ethereal. Including work from Susan Macwilliam ( see earlier post>) and RCA graduate (Floren)Cia Durante. Brilliant brilliant stuff, highly recommend a visit!

My exhibit at The Great RCA Exhibition 2007 15th-29th June

Images from the three departments of research and therapy at the FATE Institute: THE FUTURES ASSOCIATION FOR THERAPY AND ENTERTAINMENT

The Gene Ceremony: NATURE RESEARCH & THERAPY GROUP:
Gene Testing is introduced by using a variety of foods and food utensils that act as alternative DNA swabs to determine the likelihood of developing certain diseases or behavioural disorders. A ceremonial process ensures the experience of extracting the individuals genetic material is in line with the severity of the diagnostic information it reveals.

The Delphi Party: NURTURE RESEARCH & THERAPY GROUP
This futurology technique draws on the area of corporate forecasting where a roomful of experts are brought together in a workshop format to determine the future likelihood of a certain technology being adopted and with what applications.In place of industry experts Friends and Family members of a patient of the FATE institute are drawn together under the guidance of an experienced consultant and facilitator to discuss the probability of certain life events taking place.

James Turrell

James Turrell at the Louise T Blouin Institute: In the words of Louise Blouin MacBain“The Foundation’s focus is to explore the interplay between art and neuroscience. The Institute is designed to be a home for this exploration, and where better to start than with James Turrell.”

A visit to this exhibition last month completely blew me away. The institute was an amazing building north of Holland Park with a number of well lit gallery spaces and a covered long courtyard for a place to have a coffee. I highly recommend a visit. This was the first time i had seen a Turrell exhibiton and it really was …existential. It was the perfect place to visit having found out that my grandmother had passed away, calm, but also inspiring, totally mesmerizing and …..meta-physical ! A place to meditate i guess. An alternative place to worship and contemplate one’s next step. A real inspiration for my institute. Is there a place like this in my institute? Is this another touch point to my dining service, an after care package?

Spread (2003)

The Future of Self-Knowledge

My exhibition showcase at the Design Interactions interim show:

Instruments of Self-Knowledge

The caption alongside my exhibit of sourced artifacts in the Design Interactions interim show. . Some of the instruments inside the cabinet of self knowledge are listed below with a small explanation as to how they are used and for what purpose.

MA Design Interactions Work In Progress show

Its “Work in Progress” Showtime! I have been running around like a lunatic organising my exhibit for the interim show. The show opened last night and there were plenty of people to fill our tiny exhibition space. See mungbean’s and sutje’s photostream.

Freud Museum, Hampstead

After fleeing Austria just before WWII, Freud spent his last years at this house in north london and it later becames a museum dedicated to the psychoanalyst. It contains all the original furnishings including Sigmund’s study/therapy room and all his collected antiquities. Dotted around the house are a number of captioned placards placed in front of particular objects describing a past patients dream and sigmunds interpretation. And throughout the house are a few pieces commissioned by the curator of the museum including the most recent work of Tim Noble and Sarah Webster. They created an installation at the Freud Museum in response to Anna Freud’s child psychology diagnoses(the daughter who lived and worked there). One piece entitled Polymorphous Perverse was a table full of grotesque automata baby dolls violently banging against each other and weird contraptions, ever flowing liquids and grinding noises.