numen/for use stretches giant installation across dockyard chatham

numen/for use stretches ‘tape’ across chatham dockyard

A+E Lab’s ALT*MED Festival brings together architectural and design innovators from a distant epoch across a century to create visionary cultural experiences that regenerate the Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent. Through large-scale public art installations, the program unfolds a series of dialogues around the relationship of architecture, nature, the revolution of everyday objects, and the creators themselves, while allowing the public to revisit forgotten Royal Naval architecture from the 19^th-century.

Transforming the historic site of the Victorian Dockyard at Chatham, award-winning trio Numen/For Use has conceived the giant, immersive TAPE installation. The artwork sits in harmony with the arches and beams of its architectural counterpart, re-evaluating and recreating the meaning of everyday objects as its adhesive tape form empowers it to recompose the structure of space.

Numen/For Use presents TAPE at ALT*MED Festival | image by Thierry Bal

in harmony with the victorian maritime architecture

Numen/For Use positions its iconic TAPE installation across the Grade I architecture of No. 3 Slip at the historic dockyard. The installation, which has toured around the world for over a decade, outstretches 40-meters across the Victorian-era structure’s tunnels, with its cocoon-like shape theatrically weaving in harmony with the iconic honeycomb shape of 3 Slip. ‘It is a phenomenal immersive experience that allows the public to explore art, innovative, and architectural ideas with their own intuitive sensation while challenging their perspective and imagination,’ notes the team at A+E Lab.

The traveling installation was conceived after 1.5 years of planning and 10 days of solid construction. Beyond its life at the Historic Dockyard, the components of TAPE will be re-used in several creative artwork community projects across Medway.

Numen/For Use weaves the installation in harmony with the architecture

In partnership with The Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and supported by Arts Council England, Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries (iCCi) — University of Kent, Blackout and Brandon Hire Station, TAPE runs alongside the new ‘Monsters of the Deep’ temporary exhibition at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, creating an attractive artistic presence for visitors to the Museum and the local community.

the immersive installation cocoon’s visitors | image by Thierry Bal