This is the third and final of my proposals for the three wishes project. It is also closest to the work that I am planning at the moment. The first two paragraphs come from one of my previous blogs, so sorry to be repeating myself!
The New White Cube gallery in Bermondsey is a commercial space designed specifically to showcase the work that is exhibited there. The Sir John Soane Museum in Holburn began life as a private collection within the house of the architect Sir John Soane 1753- 1837. The house has now become a museum and is slowly being restored to how it would have been upon Soane’s death in 1837.
The space in the house is in complete contrast to the space of the White Cube Gallery. And so it would be, as they were conceived nearly 200 years apart. It would appear that the concentration within both spaces is on the collections they hold. This is very apparent within the White Cube as the space is obviously designed not to be considered within the viewing of the work. It is a boring bare space, the work displayed inside it is what brings the interest. This would appear to be so that the attention is on the work rather than the space holding the work.
The Sir John Soane Museum is in a maze of a house with the appearance of trying to fit as much into the space as possible – it is the antithesis of the White Cube Gallery. But the experience of going into such a space, where the space is as interesting as the work on show, changes the way you view the works you see.
I want to create an installation within a white cube style gallery space that emphasises the differences between these spaces. The installation would be of a different type of gallery space, but would be used to show the same types of work on display in the main gallery. Galleries today are designed with visitor movement very much in mind; it is easier to get lost in older galleries. I want to show this difference through the rooms and corridors that I create in my installation. Pictured to the right is a very basic plan that I could adapt for many different galleries. Below are floor plans of other designs.
All these designs aim to combine rooms and corridors in a similar way to the Sir John Soane Museum, keeping in mind other galleries and museums, such as the National Gallery and Victoria and Albert Museum. The most important consideration is that the space is meant to show work. Therefore it would be suitable for different types of work.
