The Non-Picture Gallery
University Project | Exhibition
Drapers' Hall, Bayley Lane, Coventry, CV1 5RN
Project Information
An exhibition inspired by a collection of Arshile Gorky’s paintings, interpreted to produce abstracted, dynamic, 3D spaces for guests to move through. Guided by the forms, colours and emotions in the original paintings, this exhibition is a sensory experience for guests by utilising the 5 senses, as well as invoking emotional responses (fear, sympathy, comfort) through visuals, sounds and smells.
Five Senses Research
To choose which of the 5 senses this exhibition should appeal to the most I considered which sense people are most afraid to lose, and worked from there.
Interactive Installations Insperations
Before starting designing, I researched many types of interactive installations, and how they interacted with the senses.
Circulation, Zoning & Congestion Diagrams
To reduce foot traffic in certain areas, ensure a calm visit, and to allow proper viewing of the installations, a lot of research and editing went into spatial planning.
"Enigmatic Combat" by Arshile Gorky
"Enigmatic Combat" by Arshile Gorky
Room One - "Enigmatic Combat"
The first gallery room was for Gorky’s painting “Enigmatic Combat”. I aimed to reflect the chaotic composition with interactive furnishings which contrasts against the existing Georgian interior, whilst also introducing the artist’s life.
Interactive LED Cube
The interior of the cube has LED touch screens displaying shapes from Gorky’s painting. Visitors can interact by moving and playing with the shapes in the tunnel.
"Garden in Sochi No. 3" by Arshile Gorky
"Garden in Sochi No. 3" by Arshile Gorky
Room Two - "Garden in Sochi No. 3"
AI image generation technology quickly helped inspire the design of the “Garden in Sochi No. 3” room with the stained glass structure. The interactive installation is visitable on 2 levels, with a solid black trunk in the centre symbolising the tree in Gorky’s painting.
Room Three - "Still Life Composition No. 7"
A multi-layered, climbable structure is the main focus of the third room. The artwork feels complicated and impossible to see everything from one angle with so many layers and brushstrokes, which was translated into this busy, chaotic structure.
"Still Life Composition No. 7"
"Still Life Composition No. 7"
"Fireplace In Virginia" by Arshile Gorky
"Agony" by Arshile Gorky
"Fireplace In Virginia" by Arshile Gorky
Room 4 - "Fireplace In Virginia" & "Agony"
“Fireplace in Virginia” merges into “Agony” in the same room as both paintings are set in Gorky’s mother-in-law’s house. "Fireplace in Virginia" is colourful and welcoming with child-like characteristics, which then changes into the dark, fiery, threatening and uncomfortable atmosphere of "Agony", much like Gorky's life and relationship with his wife and mother-in-law.
Plans
With a complicated, Grade II listed building, the layout and design had to work around the existing building. The exhibition itself spans both floors of Drapers' Hall, with the main entrance, reception and gift shop on the upper floor, and the educational classroom and café on the lower floor.
Laser Cut Model
Made up of several layers of laser cut MDF, this model better explains how the rooms work together and provide a better understanding of the spaces.
