23: Installation Art

"But, after all, the aim of art is to create space -- space that is not compromised by decoration or illustration, space within which the subjects of painting can live."

-Frank Stella

Space is one of the seven basic elements of art. From large-scale installations in public spaces to smaller, more intimate works in galleries or homes, the use of space in art can enhance and transform the way we experience and interact with our surroundings.

Installation art is special form of art because it creates an immersive and often interactive experience for viewers, breaking down the traditional boundaries between art and the viewer. Unlike traditional art forms such as painting or sculpture, installation art often involves the use of the entire space, incorporating the architecture, lighting, and other elements to create a unique environment that engages the viewer's senses.

This week, the kindergarteners interacted with the physical space in school and reimagined what they will look like if we were to install them with art. 

Can I Build Another Me?

To connect with our discussion on who we are, I read the book Can I Build Another Me? by Shinsuke Yoshitake.

It's the story of a boy who bought a robot who can pretend to be him and do all his homework and chores. His plan was brilliant and foolproof -- or so he thought. Even after sharing all the important pieces of information about himself to his robot, they couldn't trick the people who really know him, like his mom. 

I gave the children a challenge: to create another version of themselves -- not to replace them, but to capture the best versions of them.

As a team, they came up with a plan.

Then, they put their plan into action by creating a prototype of their robot.

They started with the body.

Then they put all the important details.

And voila! They made another version of themselves. 

We integrated their creations as fixtures in our Early Years area. From simple ideas, the children gave life to the space we have outside our classroom, and made it more engaging and interesting for the other children and visitors in school.

The Obliteration Room

What if you were to use a room as a blank canvas?

Yayoi Kusama's Obliteration Room is an interactive art installation where visitors are invited to participate in the creation of the artwork by placing colorful dot stickers all over a blank, white room. The room starts off completely white, but as visitors add more and more stickers, the room gradually transforms into a vibrant and colorful space.

We tried to recreate Yayoi Kusama's idea by creating a small white space in our Kinder 2 classroom, and allowed the children to use it as a canvas for their ideas, expressed through different sized dot stickers. 

It's a work in progress but one thing that we discovered is that every dot that we put, regardless of how small, makes such a huge difference in the space.

The Neon Room

What can you do with a black canvas?

We discovered that with a little bit of light and some fluorescent paint, we can convert a black room into an art installation that is reminiscent of space. 

Using the techniques we learned from our abstract art pieces, and applied them on a bigger scale. As a team, we painted black sheets of paper and used them to cover a whole room.

We then put them under some black light and look at how they turned out!

Very soon, we will be converting our whole Early Years space into a museum of sorts for all the art that the children have made -- and you are all invited to come and see it for yourself. 

Details to follow soon.

One of the main goals of installation art is to create an emotional or psychological response in the viewer. By immersing the viewer in a particular environment, installation art can evoke a range of emotions, from awe to wonder to joy. This can create a powerful and memorable experience for viewers that goes beyond the visual appeal of traditional art forms, and gives us the space to express ourselves better. 

Have a wonderful week ahead, everyone!

Your Kindergarten teacher, 

Pam

P.S.

We also celebrated Karneval with wonderful games and activities prepared by the parents. Have a look at the pictures from the festivities: