Bambi's installation development: ENHANCE

After exploring and analyzing different approaches to eroticism – trying to capture eroticism in a photograph, learning how to “kiss” architecture from Pipilotti Rist, watching movies and studying from artists – I have come up with my own definition that eroticism is

"a rare experience that occurs with the enhancement of feeling or emotional attachment in the process of fulfilling one’s desire."

ENHANCEMENT

Metaphysical

The most erotic scene from the movie Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon was a close-up slow motion which allows the audience to look for and capture the most intricate details that will never be detected in at normal speed. It is also a blur in dimension and time.

The synchronization of projection and live performance, thus visual, tactile and auditory experiences, in Doug Aitken's Frontier allowed our senses to magnify and be emphasised.

First Proposal

SITE

STAIRS

Railing

The grabbing of railing for security while going down the stairs is inevitable when it's dark at 7pm, therefore stimulates tactile sense

Landing

symbolizes transition (into eroticism) both mentally and physically

Steps

walking down the stairs creates a certain momentum whilst moving 'downwards', along with the fear of 'falling' that arouses insecurity 

Second Proposal

To further emphasize on the enhancement, I chose to focus on only sense, the tactile sense, because it is the sense that has can create the most direct and instant attachment (to the material it engages with). So, I decided to blindfold (block the visual sense) and keep the atmosphere as silent (auditory) and odourless (olfactory) as possible. Morever, to touch on the concept of eroticism being a 'rare' experience, I chose to only enhance the tactility of the feet, by tying the participant's hands. Is it not rare to see someone walking downstairs blindfolded, hands tied, with bare feet?

This catalog is made in order to make a fair and analytical choice in choosing the site for my installation

Chosen Site

The unique thing about this stair was that on the fifth step there is a broken protective edge that wasn't noticable at first glance, but would make a loud enough 'clang!' to break the silence once it is stepped on. I wanted to use this feature as a stimulant in the experience

Third Proposal

TEXTURE/ TEMPERATURE CHANGE

Again, to further accentuate the sensation and rarity, but in a more subtled way, manipulation of texture can be used.

MATERIAL

FOAM

Properties

• flexibility
• the ability to distort when applied load
• the ability to gradually gain back its form once its been stepped on
• an insulator - neutral temperature contrasting with the cold temperature of stone floor

Foam catalog

Starting from the most familiar - the hardest/ most dense - texture (most similar to the normal cold stone floor) and gradually changes to the least familiar - softest/ less dense - texture (which stress the rarity of the experience)

Study model showing arrangement of materials

Sequence

A storyboard telling the sequence in experiencing the erotic installation

Final Proposal

NEW SITE

In order to access the installation participant must enter walk up a set of stairs and enter through the doors. I am certain most people in the faculty have never walked through these doors, so emphasizing the rarity and newness of the experience, and also heightening the curiosity.

Revised storyboard fitted to new site

Playing with participant's PREDICTABILITY and EXPECTANCY, the textures are placed in gradient with a twist in the last couple of steps. Because this set of stairs has 2 landings in between 8 steps - 5 steps - and 8 steps, by arranging the first 8 steps in gradient, the next 5 in a reversed gradient and the first 3 steps of the last 8 steps in the same way as the first set of 8 steps, the participant will expect the rest of the steps to be same gradient as well, which is when I chose to manipulate the texture arrangement and play with the participant's mind a little.

Arrangement of the final proposal

1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 5, 3, 1, 4

(1- most familiar to 5- least familiar)


CONCEPT OF REVERSED SITUATION

The participant, being blindfolded and having their hands tied, must put his/her trust into the accompany (me), who will guide him/her through the experience, thus forming an emotional attachment between us. In the case that the participant is an instructor, it is a reversed situation of an episode in studio where students will need to trust their instructor, this time the instructor will have to trust the student completely in his/her helpless state, thus is a two-way attachment.