September 14, 2006
Bridge, by Michael Cross
Walk on Water
“Bridge is a spectacular new site-specific design commission for Dilston Grove, London (Cafe Gallery Projects) by Michael Cross. Housed in a former church, (one of the earliest examples of poured concrete construction and a Grade II listed building), the piece comprises submerging two thirds of the inside of the church in water, and producing a series of steps which rise out of the apparently empty man-made ‘lake’ as you walk across them. Each step emerges one step in front of you and disappears back underneath behind you as you go. This ‘bridge’ is purely mechanical, the weight of the person on it depresses each step a little, this force activates a submerged mechanism which raises the next step.
The public are invited to walk out on it as if walking on water, eventually reaching the middle of the lake, thirty steps and twelve meters from the shore. There they will stand alone and detached, stranded in the middle of a plane of water until they choose to return the way they came. For some people this experience of being cut off and surrounded by water will be peaceful, for others terrifying. For some walking across the water will be pure childish joy, whilst others will be too scared to try”. (full text)
Fantastic! I am really looking forward to seeing this work and standing in the middle of water. I’ll post some photos and more detailed observations next week.
I saw products from Michael at the RCA show in 2004 (link), so its no surprise that this event is part of the London Design Festival, although the first time Cafe Gallery Projects have shown the work of a designer in the church. 20th Sep - 29th Oct at Dilston Grove, Southwark Park, London (location map). Opening preview this Sunday.
Bridge was commissioned and curated by Andrée Cooke. [blogged by Chris O' Shea on Pixelsumo]
Posted by jo at September 14, 2006 09:02 AM
