In The Mirror installation @Tomorrow’s Party, A Contemporary Art Exhibition, Beijing, 2015

Yael Reisner Studio was invited by Finn MacTaggart of PC Music to design an installation for a video release which was about to take part in a contemporary art exhibition in Beijing, curated by the Chinese art curator Shang Shang. The installation was designed for the video premier in the art exhibition Tomorrow’s Party, on December 11, in Beijing, of a new song by the Chinese mega pop star Chris Lee (Li Yuchun 李宇春), entitled Real Love / Only you, produced by PC Music. The location is at the Orange in Taikoo Li Sanlitun.

The video was directed by: Kinga Burza, Creative Director: Finn Mactaggart PC005.

The installation’s name In the Mirror – a quote a from the lyrics of the song – led to the installation’s theme, as instructed by MacTaggart, who was the video’s creative director, in charge of that installation and in a direct communication with the exhibition’s curator.

The design concept

The design was the result of a collaborative work between Yael Reisner Studio and Barnaby Gunning Studio.

Reisner and Gunning suggested to opt for three LED video walls – main large one and two extra – each surrounded by mirror panels connected together, where the main wall placed at the end of the gallery space, and the two extra ones opposite its two sides, (see the plan).

The mirror panels’ role was to reflect extra colour and images emanating from the very same video shown on all three LED-video- walls, thus enhancing the visual effect, while the same video will be shown un-synchronised on all three, yet, the sound will be emanating from the main LED Video Wall only, the large one facing the gallery.

The mirror panels along the large screen – creating together the larger and taller wall, at the hall, the gallery, where hanged like a draping textile made of silver-mirror-square panels, (see its facade’s sketch).

Working out the walls’ design went successfully with the help of Barrisol, in France, whom we opted for, producing the mirror panels, stretched on their aluminium square frames, with their unique product – a high-quality mirror-stretching-textile. Barrisol could produce at great quality and speed, yet, at the end all production was moved to Beijing.

The plan describing the layout of the exhibition Tomorrow’s Party.

A drawing of Reisner & Barnaby’s design proposal.

A sketch of the mirror-square-panels hanging. Reisner & Barnaby’s design proposal.

The many photos captured the main visual effect, though, immersing at the very three-dimensional audio-visual experience was naturally far more exciting.

In The Mirror installation at the exhibition Tomorrow’s Party’s opening, the installation the video Only You /Real Love was premiered, seen on its three walls, each consist of LED screen panels along panels wrapped with stretched mirroring textile.

In The Mirror installation at the exhibition Tomorrow’s Party’s opening. It’s clear where the LED screens showing the very video, and where are the reflecting mirror panels, enhancing imagery, colour, and effect.

In The Mirror installation – view from above before the opening. Seen here two of the walls,( out of three).

The exhibition’s overall theme: The Future of Poetry Is with the Programmers

As was reported on the Global Times, China– see link http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/951099.shtml – the exhibition’s theme, The Future of Poetry Is with the Programmers, gathered several young idols and artists including Chris Lee, OHO, Link, Li Jingxiong, Jonathan Zawada, Kim Laughton, Wang Xinyi, Sentinel and Oliver Haidustschek. Young idol OHO, champion of the Chinese singing talent show Super Boys in 2013, will cooperate with Liu Yongqi and Wang Xinyi to collectively create artworks using mechanical devices and computer animations.

As Long Danni, the CEO of EE-Media described the exhibition’s intention: The exhibition itself is a media that opens more doors, allowing young people to build connections, integrate and create new powers.

Long Danni, the CEO of EE-Media at the exhibition’s opening at the In The Mirror’s space.

Long Danni, the CEO of EE-Media at the exhibition’s opening at the In The Mirror’s space, talking to each of the participating artists.

Shang Shang in conversation with Yael Reisner, at the exhibition’s opening

from the left: Shang Shang, Yael Reisner, and Finn MacTaggart

Yael Reisner at the Exhibition’s opening

from the left: Finn Mactaggart of PC Music, Yael Reisner, the Chinese mega-pop-star Chris Lee/ Li Yuchun 李宇春, who wrote and performed the song at the premiered video, entitled <em>Real Love / Only you</em>, (produced by PC Music), and Long Danni, the CEO of EE-Media.

In The Mirror installation at the exhibition’s opening. We can see here Chris Lee performing her song <em>Real Love / Only you</em>, at the video’s premiere in the exhibition’s context.

Vignette of the exhibition Tomorrow’s Party at the opening evening.

Tomorrow’s Party exhibition – a vignette. The eight pieces of work were mostly engaged with an artistic expression evolved from a hybrid of digital and analogue engagement.

The exhibition took place in a building designed by Kengo Kuma, that is a cinema and events’ auditorium, turned gallery for exhibitions, and is a part of an urban complex with retail spaces, restaurants, and a hotel, in the San Li Tun area of the Chaoyang District in Beijing. It comprises 19 buildings all designed by Kuma. Physically it felt like being in London, NYC, or Tokyo, yet, the architecture felt consistently contemporary in form, content, details and atmosphere.

Shang Shang, the curator, on the right with his wife Grace.

Building the Installation / Exhibition

All photographs were taken by Yael Reisner

Under construction.