Black Box

On the 6th of October 2008 the third year Typo/Graphic design course from the London College of Communication were invited to participate in an experimental workshop. All students were asked to meet at their studio on the first day of the final year. They were then taken to the space.

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‘The So Called Utopia of the Centre Beauborg’ was written in 2007 by Luca Frei. It describes a social experiment in Paris which was given to the Parisian to develop a culture independent from the Parisian bourgeois. Although this was a fictional account of this event similar ideas have been realised on this model. During 1969-70, first year sculpture class at the Central School of Art undertook a radical experiment in which the students were given no restrictions other than the materials with which to work with. This was repeated every day for a year during which time no critical feedback was given.

Black Box draws from these experiments in order to challenge and motivate students beginning their final year by providing them with a range of social situations which require a solution. It also aims to provide a point at which the progress of the students may be traced for the future works and everything which has come before.

All images by Harry Watts.

The space was purposefully dark and restricted in order to create an intense atmosphere.

Upon arrival the students were briefed in the a neutral space outside the working area. The students were divided into nine groups and given a set of materials and a space in which to work. In addition to this they were provided with a short statement which the product of the days work must represent.

Documentation

The groups responded with diverse approaches producing a range of sculptural and performance pieces. True to the previous examples none of the groups were given any critical feedback as an attempt to further the culture of self criticism throughout the year.