barber osgerby represent the UK at london design biennale 2016

barber osgerby presents wind-powered forecast installation at inaugural london design biennale

london design biennale: edward barber and jay osgerby, together with the V&A, present ‘forecast’ – the UK installation – for the inaugural event. the wind-powered installation will be positioned in the edmond j. safra fountain court at the somerset house during the event in september 2016.

jay osgerby, edward barber and victoria broackes at the somerset house
photo by retts woods

edward barber and jay osgerby‘s sculptural work calls to mind a romantic image of britain’s great maritime history, with tall ships, towering masts and fluttering sails, while simultaneously evoking wind turbines and weather stations. it also reflects the necessity to respond creatively to the need for environmental action in the face of the precarious state of the planet. the UK is at the forefront of the development in wind energy, with as much offshore capacity already installed as the rest of the world combined.

the installation is built by litestructures, with engineering by arup, and is comprised by a group of wind masts and rotating elements, that draw influences from weather measuring instruments. movement will be triggered as the wind picks up or changes direction, creating a simple kinetic sculpture that responds to the elements.

‘it is a real honour to be representing great britain in the first london design biennale. our piece, ‘forecast’, responds to the theme of utopia by linking our seafaring past to a future of truly sustainable power.

as an island nation, britain has historically been reliant on harnessing the power of the wind and the waves for transportation, migration, trade and exploration. today, the UK is a world leader in offshore wind energy. ‘forecast’ is intended to reference this and highlight the opportunity for a more sustainable future‘ – edward barber & jay osgerby

‘‘forecast’ is a giant kinetic sculpture that responds to the strength and direction of wind: signing the way of progress- past, present and future. in blurring the linearity of time, forecast suggests that utopia doesn’t have to be unattainable, it can be here and now, and is intended as a symbolic reminder that every individual can make a difference, starting from today. striking a delicate balance between functionality and beauty, forecast will be an expression of what might be possible: much like thomas more’s vision of utopia itself.’ – victoria broackes, V&A curator

christopher turner, director of the london design biennale says:
‘the london design biennale is an entirely new fixture in the cultural calendar, and we are thrilled that the UK’s first installation will be delivered by such prestigious british designers, in collaboration with the world’s leading museum of art and design.’

british land CEO, chris grigg, comments:
‘design is key to our ambition to create places people prefer; places where people want to work, shop and live. our partnership with the V&A and the london design biennale, to deliver the UK’s stunning installation by barber & osgerby, demonstrates our commitment to innovative and engaging design which has a positive impact on local communities.’

alongside design installations from over 35 other nations, ‘forecast’ responds to the inaugural biennale’s theme ‘utopia by Design’; a celebration of the 500th anniversary of the publication of thomas more’s inspirational text, as part of somerset house’s UTOPIA 2016 season.

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