Passage
Realized as part of the inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial 2015, Passage is a
reflection on the spatial qualities of the ramp. As a connection of horizontal
planes, the ramp is inherently an ambiguous, in-between space. Often
unnoticed in daily life, the ramp presents itself as an opportunity for
disruption.
The experience of being on a ramp is clearly directional, up or down and its
change in gradient subtly affects one’s sense of self. In response to a
perceived incline and distance, our navigational sense corrects one’s
movement by adjusting pace and posture. This installation endeavors to
interrupt this ingrained response by heightening an awareness of one’s body
in space.
Passage consists of a series of portals that envelop the space of the ramp at
the Chicago Cultural Center and an aerial photograph of the Chicago skyline
—taken by Iwan Baan— that spans the length of the ramp. Each portal is a
unique form and shape. When seen from a distance, the overall structure
increases the volumetric presence of the ramp. Traversing through the ramp,
the sequence of portals unfolds as individual picture frames, establishing a
sense of pace and rhythm to one’s movement, and revealing glimpses of the
photographed city beyond the portals. The repetition of frames slows or
accelerates the perception of movement and their varied heights shift the
perception of perspective.
The installation is composed of standard, off-the-shelf steel studs—an
omnipresent architectural component that is seldom visible and typically
beneath layers of sheetrock and insulation. Daylight from two large, glazed
openings highlights the reflective surface of the portals and the individual
presence of each frame.
Prolonging the experience of transitioning from one state to another, the
installation.
