Tate Modern: Hyperlink

Yesterday I went to the Hyperlink festival at Tate Modern. I had a good look around, felt particularly inspired, and took part in a few of the workshops. I entered the building through the side entrance by the Millenium bridge and so the first thing I saw when I entered was a large crowd gathered around the bannisters. Much to my surprise there was an ocean full of paper boats!

Upon closer inspection it became clear that the boats were representations of travel, currencies and societies from all over the over. A variety of maps, currency, travel tickets and other random pieces of paper had been given to the general public to create their own boats. This display was Susan Stockwell's "Sail Away".

After exploring this ocean I went into The Tanks and saw the "Architecture: art meets sound with Adjaye Associates" workshop where we recreated a Roy Lichenstein image as a  huge installation with balloons.  I spoke with one of the associates who went over the group's struggles with how they were going to create something worth interacting with from something that was already related to the Tate Modern, in this case the recent Roy Lichenstein exhibition. I was told how the installation explored architecture through the measuring and planning of the space they were assigned and how it abstraction played it's part through viewpoints and the shapes of the balloons.

Final I wandered back through the ocean to take part in Yemi Awosile's Illustration workshop which used a variety of materials such as card, glue, tape, pens, pencils and stickers to explore pattern, communication and colour. I spoke to Awosile who was really pleased with how the workshop was going and how it was bringing together different generations. At the beginning of the day she wasn't sure whether or not the wall would be completed within the first hour but as the day went on she noticed that the public were taking their creations home with them as a kind of memoribila. When I asked her about the concept behind the workshop Awosile said that she wanted something that would put across language and communication in an easy way.

For my own creation I decided to make an origami flower, so I could use a talent I had gained during my time on the Foundation course. When I first thought about what I would create I imagined how music is a language that everyone understands, there are no barriers of words and definitions, just sounds that produces emotion. However I was unable to think of a creative way to portray this minus the stereotypical musical notes. Instead I decided to represent the basis of language and how it stems of a range of natural sounds such as cries, clicks, and other primal sounds.



My Creation



The collection just before I left the workshop

Hyperlink has inspired me to set up a workshop as one of my final pieces, something that the audience could take part in and be part of the exhibition. The public really enjoyed the workshops from what I could see of the smiling faces and laughter.