tato architects/yo shimada: meeting at kobe biennale

all photographs courtesy of tato architects and yousuke takeda

‘meeting’ was conceived by japanese architect yo shimada of tato architects and designed by ichiro hashimoto of s3 associates for the kobe biennale. the work is comprised of a curtain, formed from optically processed film of 35mm hung from an oval ring; a white-painted rectangular perimeter enclosing the curtain; and mirrors angled at 45° for each of the four corners towards the oval curtain. the viewer enters the space through an opening in the piece, continuing around the oval corridor. their movement sways the curtain and the viewer’s reflection flickers across the film and mirrors in their quest through the seemingly endless passageway.

left: wide view of the installation right: side view of the piece and corner mirrors

detailed view of the curtain

lower view of the film curtain and container walls 

detailed views of the work’s angled mirrors and the effect of their reflection on the comprehension of the piece

detailed view of the film curtain

shimada’s conceptual drawings for the exhibit