Out of Site, Out of Mind
"By connecting people through the safety of light we find in each other comfort, hope, and a common path towards ending poverty"
A workshop project supported by the IALD (International Association of Lighting Designers) and city of Alingsås, Sweden, the theme of the 2016 installations was the UN Sustainable Development Goals https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
For the site selected by CJ and her team, the goal of 'No Poverty' was primary inspiration. According to UN statistics at the time, 836 million people live in extreme poverty (noted in 2016 as <$1.25/day), there is forced displacement of many people around the world, and in some areas those who are displaced are "invisible" members of society.
The installation used light and occupancy sensors to reveal a pathway along the woods where important artifacts for human living could be found; from cookware to work clothes, bicycle to teddy bear. In addition, (4) structures were erected to highlight different global locations where poverty is a problem. Freestanding lattice-like structures were created by the students, along with shadowy sculptures, backlit in the woods.
In partnership with Shelter Box https://shelterbox.org/, a tent was offered for use as part of the installation to highlight personal donations and support of emergency shelter and tools for families robbed of their homes by disaster.
Photo Credit: Patrik Gunnar
