Bambi's CAPSULE HOTEL

Bambi's site research: "Sukhumvit soi 39"

The conceptual aspects of my idea of eroticism that I have been developing over the previous projects consists of gradual change and the experience itself being rare. Both of those involve around the element of transition and changes over "time", which therefore becomes the main focus of my site analysis.

From the study of the site's history, there is clearly evidence of transition within the site over the course of time, as well as its adjacent buildings. The surrounding buildings i.e. The Emporium and BTS Promphong also play huge roles in the increase of the site's population and converting the area into a centre of commerce and commute. This relationship between the shopping mall and sky train with the site is "commensalism"

Another change in time is the daily routine. By observing the activity of the shophouses and their surroundings, I have found particular patterns of work shifts, for example, the food vendors' morning shifts and sumaru taxis customer target time.

One unexpected finding that also contributes to the erotics of the site is its "ambiguity". Next to Sukhumvit soi 39, on the other side of the shophouses is a small, anonymous soi. Along with the inexistence of soi 37, makes the soi much more mysterious. When I asked the people in and around the site I got numerous answers. Only locals within a small scope within the site and had been there for over 10 years gave the same answer, that it is a private road.

Bambi's model behind the scenes

Bambi's shophouse research: "removable modular"

SHOPHOUSE IN CHAREONKRUNG

Bambi's documentation and post analysis: ENHANCE

I found the selection of site was successful, the journey of getting to the site corresponds well with the sequence of the ritual. The arrangement of the chosen texture was quite effective as well, it received the effect that was intended, teasing with the participant's mind, predictability and expectancy. They exclaimed a sound of surprise when they meet the unexpected and sudden change of texture that didn't follow the gradient.
Another reaction I noticed was also that participants slow down when they come to the softest (least familiar) texture, the last stage of erotic tactility, so they enjoyed exploring that particular texture. Afterwards, they also added they wanted to go back to that texture to experience it again, even though they also want to move forward and seek for the finish line and security.

Critique

The compromise of the concept of helplessness and concept of trust in a reversed situation tends to reduce the effectiveness of the installation. It might have been better to choose one to focus on and fuller enhance it to get a stronger and more powerful reaction.

If the idea of helplessness is executed with the participants completely suspended (without accompany) might show a more vivid process in their reaction. A development of movement and growing confidence; from crawling to kneeling to walking.

Bambi's installation drawing: ENHANCE

This is axonometric drawing showing the intended effect during the participant's sensual experience. As you can see the drawing is very minimal, this is to convey the reduction of sensual activities, in order to "enhance" the one and only tactile sense. The suspension of stairs in the black background represents the participant's blinded vision and obscure sense of dimension and time, fear of falling down and insecurity in the pitch black world. The removal of railing from the stairs in the drawing suggests the actual removal of the railing - the usual source of security and confidence - from the participant's reach, so him/her would feel helpless and feel the need to trust me who is the accompany, therefore creating an emotional and physical attachment between one another. Moreover, the collage of texture explains its arrangement, plus the zoomed-in texture shows visually the density of each texture, which implies what the tactile quality would be. Lastly, the blue fill-in represents the cool temperature of the stone floor that is used to signify the transition from the metaphysical experience to the norm.

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.

Bambi's research on Doug Aitken and Andy Warhol

MOVIES ANALYSIS
CROUCHING TIGER AND HIDDEN DRAGON by Ang Li
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE by Wong Kar Wai
CLOSER by Mike Nichols

Keywords from the movies

Intimacy, Desire, Longing, Tension, Sentimental, Curiosity, Instantaneous, Enhancement, Engagement