Transforming the Ordinary.
Second Glance
Public Intervention - Deploying Narratives (2022)
Oxford Street is a place with rich historical background, culture and diversity. While the cultural significance and the pride of the LGBTQ+ community are celebrated, the historical aspect of Oxford Street and architectural beauty are often neglected, being seen as something unimportant that we see day to day. So depressing have we become that only our phones can entertain and surprise us. We view everyday events and objects often as meaningless “things” that we no longer appreciate the simple, the ordinary. Through the beautification of the kaleidoscope, SECOND GLANCE provides us with an opportunity to take in our “trivial” surroundings once more before the Strategic Planning Statement City Plan 2036 takes place, demolishing these historical marvels (City of Sydney, 2022). Novelty motivates us to explore, in search of a reward, an unexpected feeling of joy (Cooper, 2013).
Historic Heart, Modern Lens.
Using kaleidoscopes as the focal point of this project allows viewers to observe everyday things from a different perspective. Drawing on childhood nostalgia, when the simplest reflections of mirrors and colourful patterns amaze us for the first time, the audience is encouraged and inspired to take a second look at these often-overlooked historical architectures to find the beauty within. Thus, the intervention provides actual kaleidoscopes for viewers to experience and discover the everyday things anew.
The Path.
The intervention features 8 significant architectures that are still in function, from Taylor Square to Paddington. 7 of these checkpoints are represented as the main centre of attention in which two versions of kaleidoscopic forms derived from actual buildings on Oxford Street are introduced: duotone and normal. Utilising the colour green and black, the colour of revitalisation (Sensational Color, n.d.-a) and death (Sensational Color, n.d.-b), the duotone version conveys the idea of transitioning these dying buildings into something entirely different, a better precinct of creativity and culture as the city plan stated (City of Sydney, 2022). Upon second glance, the kaleidoscope series also extracts colours from the actual buildings to spark the realisation of a need to save and celebrate them as a form of memorabilia.
The Implementation.
On the journey from one checkpoint to another, viewers will encounter checkpoint-specific implementations of the kaleidoscopic visual identity, ranging from bus shelters and communication panels to banners, etc. For instance, having the kaleidoscopic forms displayed on newly designed and installed QMS street furniture (QMS Media, n.d.), SECOND GLANCE bridges the gap between historical and modern architecture and infrastructure. Other than these encounters, other trail guides on the wall and tiles also serve as part of the wayfinding system of the entire intervention, leading the audience on the right path.
City of Sydney. (2022). Strategic review: Oxford Street. Retrieved June 14, 2022, from https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/policy-planningchanges/
strategic-review-oxford-street Cooper, B. B. (2013). Why Getting New Things Makes Us Feel So Good: Novelty and the Brain. Buffer Resources. https://buffer.com/resources/novelty-and-the-brain-how-to-learn-more-and-improveyour-memory/#:%7E:text=Animal%20studies%20around%20the%20brain’s,in%20search%20of%20a%20reward.
QMS Media. (n.d.). City of Sydney. https://www.qmsmedia.com/portfolio/cityofsydney/Sensational Color. (n.d.-a). Finally, COLOR EXPLAINED by an expert in a way that everyone can understand. https://www.sensationalcolor.com/meaning-of-green/
Sensational Color. (n.d.-b). Finally, COLOR EXPLAINED by an expert in a way that everyone can understand. https://www.sensationalcolor.com/meaning-of-black/