Monsalve, Mara S.

July 24, 2013

10-0697
ART202
Contemporary art
analysis







On Space Time Foam art
installation by Tomas
Saraceno, in Milan


Upon browsing the internet for a contemporary art piece to analyze, I stumbled into this
installation piece. Visitors to the On Space Time Foam on February 2012 in Milan, find themselves with
a mind-boggling work. The installation art made visitors interact with large sheets of transparent PVC and
the air trapped in between the plastic. PVC stretched 24 meters above the floor of a massive former
industrial unit, Hangar Bicocca in Milan. Placed near the roof, literally floating in the air and being
transparent, interacting with the installation is not for the faint of heart. A large space is taken up by the
installation. Within this complicated artwork there are two variables: the controlled and the uncontrollable.
The controlled variables are the space, PVC, pumped air, drawbridge ladder (for people to enter the
artwork) and banisters (where the PVC is hanging on). The most important variable, the uncontrollable
one, is provided by the audience of the installation itself as they are urged to occupy the artwork. Their
presence gives the artwork a sense of dynamism that the artwork would lacked with its controlled
variables. Still, the controlled variable emphasizes that dynamism due to their characteristics alone.
Upon seeing the artwork, I was immediately drawn to the people interacting with the pvc. The pvc
also heightens their movement as it bends against the pressure exerted by the exhibit goers. The exhibit
goers on the other hand are distinctly separate from each other, giving a sense of isolation despite their
numbers. They are in their own little air-pockets floating and falling, giving the plastic shape just by being
there. This added space, makes it seem that the individuals are in their own little world with their own
sense of freedom. Some people are visibly content with the space they are allotted, which is actually a lot
in the perspective of the installations size. Other individuals however, refuse to stay in their cocoon and
are trying to get out of the blasted plastic. But their efforts have little effect on actually getting out. It gives
of a sense of difficulty, of having to work hard just to travel a little distance in the plastic surface. The little
but difficult movement is translated into the plastic surface by a stretched effect. Even so, one remains
isolated despite the effort. Another aspect I find intriguing besides isolation and difficulty is the sense of
danger lingering in the whole piece. The translucency of the plastic gives a fascinating dimension on
movement and space but at the same time, I cant help but wonder when the taught plastic would
collapse due to the added movement of the uncontrolled variables. It is likely that the threat of danger is
visible to those who are part of the art piece, but the full extent of it is only visible to those who observe
the installation without being part of it. Add the fact that this installation is suspended on air; it would make
a lot more sense for wary exhibit goers to not interact with the art piece while their more daring
counterparts would be attracted to it for the thrill.
With this three concepts in mind, isolation, difficulty and danger, one wonders in what context the
installation is situated in. then I remember that this was constructed in this decade and its most possible
context is right now. It could say something about how our time is capable of predicting danger before it
happens to a certain extent, how individual freedom has all but consumed us isolating us from others and
how most individuals perceive the world to be more hostile and difficult to deal with than before. Yet,
despite those ideas roaming in my brain, it still expresses the beauty this century is capable of.