interior view of installation space


nuages is conceived of as a layered soft space that is intimate and evocative of mist and condensation. the cloud-like installation is materialized through hanging nylon string of varying densities and lengths that result in changing degrees of transparency. the work interfaces the very open and visible quality of the lab gallery with a wish to create secluded and hidden zones where dancers moving in and around the installation can appear and disappear, creating an ambiguous ‘inbetween’ zone where exterior[audience] and interior[dancers] meet. the limits of the rectangular gallery space are visually dissolved though the layered strings, giving both audience and performers a sensation of an endlessly enveloping and boundary-less inner world. e+i studio: eva perez de vega + ian gordon, assisted by flavia bertorello nu dance theater: eva perrotta, sophie bortolussi installation assistants: jacinda ross, monica wynn, adrienne reynolds, lauren greenland, sarah kaplan, virginia cayzer, katherine teague photography: brandon jacobs-mills project team this project was a tight collaboration between e+i studio, and nudance theater. “nuages” is made possible in part with public funds from the manhattan community arts fund, supported by the nyc department of cultural affairs and administered by lower manhattan cultural council. e+i studio: eva perez de vega + ian gordon, assisted by flavia bertorello nu dance theater: eva perrotta, sophie bortolussi installation assistants: flavia bertorello, jacinda ross, monica wynn, adrienne reynolds, lauren greenland, sarah kaplan, virginia cayzer, katherine teague photography: brandon jacobs-mills process the project concept the idea for this project had been latent in our work for a while and has evolved quite a bit from the beginning inception. the project began with an interest in creating an interactive space that explored issues of movement and space perception. our goal was to create a flowing, liquid space that would engage the city and the performers; having the physical elements of the space affect their movements and in turn their movement be affected by the potentials of the space. we were interested in creating a liquid-like, fluid space with various levels of opacity, similar to a cloud or mist. fabrication: the project methodology through the assistance of the mcaf grant we were able to partially fund the development of the project which was developed in conjunction with “nudance theater”; we collaboratively created a set design and performance piece. our goal was to materialize mist, so we did a series of tests using nylon cord hanging from the ceiling. in collaboration with the dance company nudance theater, we were able to secure a space in the lab gallery which is part of the roger smith hotel in midtown manhattan. the mission of the gallery was very much in synch with our project concept and collaborative process, so it was a perfect fit. however, the gallery would only give us a weekend to install the installation, so we had to find a place to fabricate the installation ahead of time and find an effective way of transporting it. ultimately we rented a studio space in the brooklyn fireproof building, which the dancers used to choreograph the performance and we used to build the installation across the span of 4 weekends, and installed it on the fifth weekend. the installation was moved panel by panel on the night of november 2nd, to the lab gallery on 501 lexington avenue in manhattan we prepared the ceiling by placing eye hooks and metal angles throughout the existing ceiling and painting the space and with our project assistants we anchored all 16 panels to the existing ceiling. given the corner storefront exposure, our installation also had an urban quality to it as it would continuously engage passersby to stop and look. the space and nylon string were lit at night which created a very unique urban effect. materials: - 8’x4’ sheet metal panels, qty: 16 - nylon cord: 70,000 linear feet - zip ties: many many many - eye hooks, screws, angles: many many


urban context


exterior view of gallery


exterior view with city reflections


interior view of with sun rays


detail view


in performance


in performance


in performance


fabrication


detail view


fabrication drawings


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