The Shopping mall as a stranger interaction machine

To create a channel for strangers to build relationship. The relationship is fleeting but these momentary connection can be packed with meaning.

A turning point

When today’s consumers visit malls, they are looking for experience that go beyond traditional shopping. The shopping mall nowadays are facing a critical inflection turning point to transform the mall experience by leveraging technology and multichannel strategies to fit consumers’ new tastes. Kamppi is in the centre of Helsinki district which has a multiple role not merely a shopping mall but also works as a transportation terminal. Besides these practical function, Kamppi is now exploring more possibility by offering its customer novel experience.

A stranger interaction machine

In which case will you talk to a stranger? When is the last time you talk to stranger? 

The last time of myself talking to a stranger is the day that I was carrying a stack of carton when someone came up and offer me a hand. I felt so grateful meanwhile a bit embarrassed in that unusual situation. It recalled me of one concept design: an umbrella with a help button, the scenario is in rain day you can press the button that the other who need umbrella can ask you for help without worry of being rejected. This is part of urban culture when the strangers and cities are inherently intertwined. A culture of dense population with sparse interconnections is part of what defines ‘the urban’ by Kio Stark, a professor who did the stranger studies New York University’s interaction Telecommunications Program. Shopping mall, as the product of urbanization, is the interaction machine where we come across strangers everyday.

Finnish nightmares by Karoliina

Hello stranger

As I am interested in stranger interaction, I would like to start a project exploring themes as follows:

1. How stranger initiate interactions.
2. How the space can be designed to trigger meaningful stranger interaction.

The original concept is a bidirectional interaction device. Once two persons in different floors sit in the same sofa, the device would be triggered and people can start a conversation after a greet from the device. Re-considering the initial idea, the automatically talk could be a bit difficult for two people in different space. Voice could be a effective communication way but in this case may be not strong enough to trigger conversation. 

The new option is to do a silent communication. I agree with Kio’s point of view that even the simplest exchange among strangers can contain a tangled accumulation of meanings: what transpires may have physical, emotional, social, political, technological and historical dimensions. 

Hello stranger- Look into the box
see others face through a box

Observing life in a shopping mall, concept development part I

 

As this is going to be more or less a site-specific work, and so hopefully somewhat related to Kamppi as a space, I began the work with some observations. The main theme, which I eventually selected as a guideline for the concept development, highlights the evolution of shopping malls into small cities, or organisms, where people work, shop, wait, spectate and form social connections. A feature particular to Kamppi is the combination of a commercial space (for shopping) and a (semi-)public space (for transportation).

 Having lived in Helsinki for a long time (and having walked through Kamppi multiple times) I was interested in the ability to observe this space and its everyday actions from an other angle, as an outside spectator. The main inspiration for my work, therefore, became from different type of monitoring rooms separated from the life outside, but also the play between the roles of an actor and a spectator on the other sides of a dividing plane. This is the first perspective: seeing and being seen.

Another main perspective associated with this idea appears in a weird, but rather popular concept of slow television. The interesting thing in this phenomenon is the ability to display something completely ordinary, but breath life into it by filtering it through a screen, allowing one to spectate "from above", in contrast to "together".
 

Andy Warhol, Sleep
 
I selected one more specific source for inspiration, the film "Dogville" by Lars Von Trier. This film shows similar themes by playing with the real and unreal, integration and alienation.

Lars Von Trier, Dogville



Following these sources of inspiration I wanted to create a space within the space, which allows exiting the everyday and entering a space void of time and action. Another perspective I was interested in is how by offering a space for one to spectate the performance of the shopping mall, they also become the objects for spectating, putting themselves "on display".

Some sketches

The basic construction of the work then started to mold into a box-shaped space with a window and seat. The goal with the structure is to achieve a space, wich from the inside resembles a film screen (or a large tv-screen), and from the outside a shop window.

A first 3D-sketch of the concept

The placement of this work is critical both for the purpose of fulfilling the concept, but also for inviting people to interact with the work. As the primary spot I selected the main plaze, as it offers a natural stage with idle people around, but possibilites for change are left open at this point.

A visualization of a possible placement

For now the development of the concept continues by decisions on the final form to keep it in line with the concept and to amplify the selected themes, and then finally the construction of the work.

More to follow...

Inspiration for Yao's Mirror the City

It has to bring the new opportunity and experience to current space, not just observation. 

It has to be a object or installation plays with the context of this public space through reflections, light and the interaction of passers-by. 

Ring Installation/ Arnaud Lapierre, 2011


Material Investigate

Reflective membrane:

cheap, light, easy to modify, but doesn't has material integrity.













Polished Metal Panel:

good material integrity, can be used to create space. 













16/03/2017
After talked with Andy and my friend I found the budget is a problem, besides my idea is more like a traditional sculpture which lacks of interaction with people.

So I decide to change my original idea to make it more playful as well as affordable.

I looked up some minimalism art work of Donald Judd, try to find inspiration from that.

Welcome to Media Intervention in the City @ Kamppi 2017!

Vare Dag, 2016. Andy Best & Merja Puustinen. Permanent installation, Katrineholm, Sweden.

So another year has passed and we are back in Kamppi Shopping Center, downtown Helsinki, for the next few weeks! Thanks again to Heli Vainio for helping to facilitate the working space. Over the next few weeks a diverse group of students will be working in and around Kamppi, observing, analysing and planning their projects, which may take any form from installation or object, to performance and sound works. Others may develop workshops or other participatory interactions. Watch this space for more information!