Polyphonic Playground

Polyphonic Playground is a interactive, playable structure commissioned by Fashion Space Gallery, London College of Fashion and designed by Studio PSK.

Inspired by the inherent joy of using playgrounds as a child, this installation encourages adults to rediscover this experience of play. Taking the archetypal elements of a playground – swings, slides, climbing frame – and combining them with electrical and sound engineering, a landscape of playground archetypes are transformed into musical instruments when used. A timber framework creates the iconic playground pieces at adult scale. Combining these with custom electronics, custom designed and build circuit boards with touch sensors and woven electronic yarn, each object gains another level of interactivity.

The capabilities of this installation have been further unlocked by performances by musicians and dancers including Liberez, Davide Cairo, Bellatrix and Eleesha Drennan.

The piece is on display at Sonic Arcade: Shaping Space with Sound at the Museum of Art and Design, New York from 22 August 2017 – 11 February 2018 and was previously shown at Maintenant Festival in Rennes, France, Crossover Festival in the Olympic Park, London, the House of Vans in London, at LCF Mare Street as part of London Design Festival in September 2015, at Ventura Lambrate in Milan during the Salone di Milano in April 2015 and in Miami during Art Basel in December 2014.

The project originated from a series of collaborative conversations between Studio PSK, Fashion Space Gallery and musical artist Reeps One and has been developed with Creative Technologist Ben Williams.

• http://www.fashionspacegallery.com/exhib...