emergent
a living mobile gallery
We need new kinds of storytelling … we need to tell empirically grounded stories of particular times and places and positions and we need to tell them with much curiosity and wonder
Anna Tsing, Pluralizing the Anthropocene 2021
In a world where exhibition spaces are mostly showcases rather than spaces where community action occurs, what would alternative formats, new forms of interactions, more inclusive spaces look like?
What possible experiences, what new dialogues can a redesign of the gallery as a living, breathing entity foster?
Emergent is a mobile gallery featuring artworks at the intersection of science and the arts. Its goal is to better comprehend and cope with the emergence, survival, and adaptation of life as a result of climate change and global mobility, laboratory manipulations and world making.
Emergent is a porous object: it encourages reflections across different experiences and sites of divergence through and with the arts; it may reach new human and non-human audiences, and have a transformative effect on the places it visits.
Emergent interrogates the role of exhibition spaces today. What possible experiences, what new dialogues could a redesign of the gallery as a living, breathing entity foster?
An easily portable mobile gallery (ideal for international travel). its bottom can be adapted to different environments and circumstances and normally is fabricated onsite. the upper gallery fits a custom made crate
A larger mobile gallery built on top of a bike trailer. It can accommodate multiple collaborating artists and projects and is suitable to larger scale experiments
A Mobile Gallery
Emergent doesn’t provide a rigid narrative that the spectator must follow. The spectator is active, and even playing with the content on display. The participant is free to approach its content and narratives on their terms. The gallery has numerous points of access to allow different modes of exploration: peepholes, magnifying lenses and periscopes allow participants to view an artwork from different angles or to discover new surprising artwork.
An Artwork
Emergent looks like a box installed on top of a bike trailer or on a platform with wheels. However, its interior changes every time it is passed on to different artists or scientists. The interior gallery contains two main chambers to which the artist can add boxes and shelves. A back section is equipped with a transparent wall to allow a more traditional exhibition view. A hidden projection space at the bottom bounce light works or small films onto the opposite wall.
A Living Object
Once artists and scientists are entrusted with the mobile gallery, they agree to share responsibility for the exhibition, by modifying its interior structure to accommodate their artwork and by simultaneously adapting their work to the space. The artist collaborates with the gallery, the surrounding context and the curators. “Care” and accountability are important for the successful completion of the collaboration.
Concept, design and fabrication by:
Roberta Buiani
University of Toronto
The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences
PhD. Media Scholar, Artist and Curator. She is the co-founder of the ArtSci Salon at the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences (Toronto) and is co-organizer of LASER Toronto. Her creative practice and teaching navigate the intersection of art and science.
Lorella Di Cintio
Toronto Metropolitan University
PhD. Received degrees in Environmental Design (Canada), Architecture (US) and Media and Communications (Europe) and teaches at Metropolitan University, The Creative School, School of Interior Design, Canada. Her creative practice and teaching navigate the realm of design activism and interiority
Ilze Briede [kavi]
York University
PhD Student and Interdisciplinary artist. Received degrees in Chinese language and culture studies (Latvia), Digital Media Production (UK), Interactive Media (UK) and Visual Arts (Canada). Her creative practice and teaching navigate the realm of bio-physiological sensing and human-computer co-creative practices.