Merry-(Christmas)-Go-Round by tan chee sing from malaysia
designer's own words:
This is a Christmas spatial installation that aims to promote face-to-face interaction between people, and among strangers. It is believed that any Christmas installation should be more than displaying objects & images & special effects, it should be able to be used by the people to interact with family, friends and even strangers. This is in tune with the true spirit of Christmas, that is to share the joy of Christmas with everyone.
A circular raised platform is designed as a gathering space for the passers-by at GRAND FRONT OSAKA. Tables and seats are installed within the circular platform, with the inner circle of seats being able to rotate ( by mechanism ) to the next table at certain intervals.
With the rotating mechanism, people are able to have conversation with many other people, greeting and knowing each other. One just need to take a random seat, chat with the people sharing the same table with you, and after certain intervals, the inner circle seat will rotate to a new table, providing you a chance to chat with another person sitting opposite you.
The spirit of Christmas is about sharing the joy with everyone, regardless of race, gender, age, social status, religion, etc. The "Merry-(Christmas)-Go-Round" is a spatial installation that is designed with this aim in mind. It is hoped that it will provide chances for the lonely elderly persons, the foreigners, and EVERYONE to have face-to-face short conversations.
Merry-(Christmas)-Go-Round !
Rotatable seats in the inner circle will be rotating at a pre-set interval ( for example 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes etc ) so that people get to chat and greet different people every 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes.
Instead of tables & seats of standard heights, low tables & seats following the Japanese tradition are also possible. It perfectly combines the spirit of Christmas and the Japanese sitting tradition.
The inner circle low seats ( in the Japanese sitting tradition ) will be rotating at a pre-set interval, similar to that of seats of standard height.
The Merry-(Christmas)-Go-Round’s circular platform design invites passers-by to enter the platform from every direction, and to engage in conversations with other peoples sitting on the seats.
It is hoped that the Merry-(Christmas)-Go-Round installation brings about real joy to the people at Grand Front Osaka, by facilitating brief conversation & greetings among people of all walks of life.
The Merry-(Christmas)-Go-Round is basically a circular platform that facilitates conversation among people. People sit on the seats, have brief conversation, and then the seats rotate to new tables.
The central area is carpeted with red carpet and installed with a Christmas tree. It is rotatable together with the inner circle seats.