Migration Series - Shoe Front, Alexa Pollmann - Design Museum, London

myminifactory

A 3Dprint created as part of Alexa Pollmann's residency at the Design Museum, London in 2015. Modelled in Rhino CAD software by Sabine Roth. About The Designers in Residence programme at the Design Museum is a core activity that provides practising designers with time and space to reflect on their practice. The programme allows designers from various disciplines to step away from their regular environment and research new ways of developing their work. "This year's Designers in Residence programme invites four designers to explore the theme of 'migration'. This can include objects or processes that imply movement, transition, shifting cultures, or mobility." - Deyan Sudjic, Director at the Design Museum #DesignersinResidence Artist - Alexa Pollmann "My key to this residency was the brief: migration challenges basic political concepts like borders, while design can discuss cultural complexities. We tend to focus on globalisation and migration problems, but the Design Museum offers a fresh perspective. I've been working on this project for a while now, and it's an honour to have it valued by an institution like the Design Museum. My working title is 'Culturing an inter-nation'. I present four characters living in an indivicracy - a fictional democracy that combines social networks with migratory lifestyles. This government neglects territorial statehoods, focusing on mobility instead. The exhibition will stage national dances and dress, sharing details about this newly emerged statehood's history. These cultural elements describe unity, but I want visitors to join in and learn the national dances as part of an interactive installation - celebrating a life in motion. I collaborate with a choreographer, dancers, a programmer, and a filmmaker, so I spend a lot of time adjusting and directing the project to fit different media. Culture is ultimately an experience, and I aim to create this through holistic work. However, I also need to hide in my studio from time to time to work on physical pieces like masks and other elements of their dress. The overall goal is to challenge people's notion of nationality: national identities are often invented and designed, just like the 'Greek' dance sirtaki was created for the film Zorba the Greek. Culturing the inter-nation aims to have a similar effect... I see this as a long-term project that will continue to evolve over time, maybe even forging a real culture someday. For now, there's a graphic novel in progress that might turn into a series, but my favourite idea is to see this piece performed live as a digital participatory opera." The Designers in Residence programme at the Design Museum is a core activity that provides practising designers with time and space to reflect on their practice. The programme allows designers from various disciplines to step away from their regular environment and research new ways of developing their work. "This year's Designers in Residence programme invites four designers to explore the theme of 'migration'. This can include objects or processes that imply movement, transition, shifting cultures, or mobility." - Deyan Sudjic, Director at the Design Museum #DesignersinResidence