philippe parreno orchestrates an experiential installation at park avenue armory

philippe parreno orchestrates an experiential installation at park avenue armory
all images courtesy of park avenue armory

for his largest work in the U.S. to date, philippe parreno turns new york’s park avenue armory into an experiential, evolving and site-specific process. the installation explores the potential of an art exhibition as a singular object, rather than a collection of individual works.

parreno radically seeks to redefine the traditional gallery-visitor-encounter by constructing a scripted scene that includes a series of constantly-changing events. within the monumental interior of the wade thompson drill hall, the dynamic grouping of happenings around the space fuse sound — both recorded and performed live by mikhail rudy — film, light, apparitions, and memory. these various elements guide the viewer’s experience through and perception of the vast site. the visitor is taken on a sensory journey through both parreno’s existing projects and new works that turn the building into a perpetually evolving organism.

the installation within the park avenue armory marks parreno’s largest exhibition in the U.S. to date

the exhibition ‘H {N)Y P N(Y} OSIS’ — co-curated by hans-ulrich obrist and alex poots, with consulting curator tom eccles — includes a vast collection of sculptural lighting that suspends from the cavernous ceiling. glowing white shapes informed by the design of movie marquees hang above visitors in bundles and as single geometries, casting dynamic patterns on the ground. as a participant walks through the site, they meet video installations, projections, pianos, chairs, speakers and sounds, all which have been carefully orchestrated to produce an immersive, sensory, and constantly-unfolding creative environment. ‘H {N)Y P N(Y} OSIS’ is presented at the park avenue armory from now until august 2, 2015.

piano music plays as visitors walk through the space 

the imposing, new york building becomes an experiential, evolving and site-specific process

glowing white shapes informed by the design of movie marquees hang above visitors

the lights are arranged in bundles and as single geometries, casting dynamic patterns on the ground

a video installation is projected on a screen, which stands behind a piano 

lights flicker and dim over the course of the show

visitors meet video installations, projections, pianos, chairs, speakers and sounds

the extensive set of objects have been carefully orchestrated to produce an immersive experience

lights bring warmth into the center of the space 

shadows are made by the white-hanging lights overhead