Q. What happens behind an exhibition? How do beautiful displays appear overnight suddenly in shopping centres? A rare glimpse as the City Exhibition is being setup in VivoCity, going on from 24th to 28th June.
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2258: CARPET ARRIVES
The contractor fixes the 2m width “carpet”, while other equipment are being transported in.
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2329: ARRANGE PEDESTALS
Layout according to plan, but, the plan was abit screwed up. It didn’t make sense. So impro on the spot.
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0002: THESIS PROJECTS UP
Okay, finally the key projects are done. They are left to clean and touch up those display shelves, which come from the school.
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0045: ALL PANELS UP
The bulk of the projects, mounted on black boards are stuck onto the pedestals.
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0129: MODELS UP
Something interesting happened. Nicholas’ model was too big and cannot fit into the stipulated size! We had to slice a portion of it off.. so sad and uncalled for, and he doesn’t know! Boils down to bad communication.
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0150: FINAL CHECKS
Those weird lights are fixed, and everything is checked for one final time. Its almost 4 hours after arrival and everyone is soooo tired. Clearing up mess and cleaning those pesky fingerprints off the acrylic boxes.
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1830: OPENING CEREMONY
This is the product everyone sees in the end! Nice and pretty? Well, some opinions:
1) NOT ENGAGING. People, especially the layman, don’t want to read so many stuff while shopping! Even I’m turned off by so many text, tiny text and so-small-it-has-become-a-blur text. Portrays a nerdy and overly-academic NUS.
2) NOT ORGANISED. Exhibitors and the curators behind the exhibition need more communication. Many are given short notice to do many things, and while this is not about pointing fingers, it is important that sufficient and timely information creates a better product.
3) NO LOVE. It’s just another hasty production. No focus, no love from the students exhibiting!
4) GREAT CREW. Despite the above problems, we have to be thankful to those who have put in so much effort to make it possible! If not for this team, the exhibition could have been a lot worse.
VotreX prefers the ID exhibition.
5 responses so far ↓
aleafof // May 27, 2007 at 7:37 pm |
haha i like this.. “…Portrays a nerdy and overly-academic NUS…” the panels were indeed too informative for their own good and don’t speak the language of design at all. It is a shame that an external exhibition like that can’t even be handled properly (3rd time running, and I’m not refering to the students invovled). Anyways I am in no position to complain or whatsoever, but I’m definitely on the side of the students.
It is no wonder then, that only the ID exhibition was featured on the papers too- same place, same time, same school- different motivations that set us apart.
votrex // May 28, 2007 at 1:21 am |
yeah! that was the confirmation about the archi side of the exhibition.
oahiz // May 29, 2007 at 3:36 pm |
hmm but i guess that is wat the public wants. a thorough and uncomprehensible academia. sorts of reeking in professionalism. nothing to really jumpstart their systems or rock the grand image of the Architect.
but otherwise, i tot the crew made the exhibition very well paced and digestable, given the fact that the exhibiting participants wont go into repaneling or redesigning to fit a theme of exhibiting.
anyways the concept of exhibition is usually stimatised as the celebration of the “best works” thing. instead of choosing the best, NUS shd try one year, to ask for volunteers to exhibit and see wat happens from there, or at least allocate some money to incentivise the exhibition team.
votrex // May 29, 2007 at 4:45 pm |
yes. i agree with trying out a different format for the exhibition! the incentives might just work, given a proper location and time, and you never know, the panels might be even more exciting than those in school!
im not sure if the public wants uncomprehensible academia though, i hope not! i see more positive responses with the id side – but probably also because its more object-based, something easier to grasp for the public. even so, its time for students to capture the imagination of the audience, rather than crouching in that dark smelly well that is the school.
aleafof // May 29, 2007 at 5:22 pm |
hey zh, i think asking for volunteers is well worth an idea to try definitely. I remember the year ones had their exhibition at SAM a year ago in which the students themselves decide whose work should be exhibited or not- peer evaluation at its best. Student participation at its most receptive level should not be based just on a list that is handed out by the school behind closed doors to determine what should or should not be exhibited.