Design Project
Eternal Dreams of Flight Exhibition
My Contributions
Rather than beginning with a predefined theme, this exhibition was developed out of a randomly assigned selection of objects from which I was tasked to curate further and build a cohesive, overarching narrative. I approached the process by carefully studying the items and allowing patterns, meanings, and connections to emerge. From this, I identified a unifying narrative, i.e. the enduring human fascination with flight.
The Problem
While the human desire to fly has inspired countless artistic and cultural expressions, these representations are often viewed in isolation, as individual myths, childhood fantasies, or technological achievements, rather than as part of a broader, cross-cultural narrative.
Engagement activity with animated visuals (paper scrunches into paper plane and flies away)
Design Response
Featuring 15 unique artworks, objects and installations, Eternal Dreams of Flight is an exhibition that explores the human fascination with defying gravity and the expressions and images created in association with that. Through this series of objects, the human interest in flying is observed and the exhibition explores how this interest has persisted across cultures and time, extending across all life stages from childhood to the afterlife.
As the exhibition aims to showcase the depth, breadth, and scale of flight as a concept, the design of the exhibition wall and visuals has been intentionally kept minimal, using only simple icons and motifs, such as light streaks. This simplicity invites visitors to engage their own imagination, rather than having overly fixed or literal interpretations imposed on them.
In an interactive activity, gallery patrons are prompted to write or draw their take on the concept of flight using digital screens provided by the exhibit. The result is a collection of words and pictures projected digitally depicted on paper that then turn into paper planes which fly away. This creates a dimension within the exhibit, and enables participants to have a personal experience within the space.
The exhibition is designed to be featured at UNSW Galleries in Paddington, Sydney.
Lighting plan
Display device
