Migration Series - Wheel, Alexa Pollmann - Design Museum, London

myminifactory

A 3D-print created as part of Alexa Pollmann's residency at the Design Museum, London in 2015 is a testament to the innovative spirit of the museum. About The Designers in Residence programme at the Design Museum is a flagship initiative that offers practising designers across various disciplines a platform to reflect, research and explore new ways of developing their practice. "This year's Designers in Residence programme invites four designers to respond to the theme of 'migration'. It can be a reflection of objects or processes that imply movement, transition, shifting cultures, cross-fertilisation or mobility." says Deyan Sudjic, Design Museum Director. The programme aims to challenge people's notion of nationality by celebrating and imagining a life in motion. Artist Alexa Pollmann's residency project is titled Culturing an inter-nation. She presents four characters who live in an indivicracy - a fictional variation of democracy that she has created. This government resembles a social network that 'follows around' as its citizens lead a migratory life, neglecting the territorial manner of 'settled' statehoods. The exhibition will stage the national dance and dress, conveying details about the history of this newly emerged statehood. These cultural elements describe unity, but Pollmann wants visitors to join in and learn the national dances as part of an interactive installation - hence celebrating a life in motion. She currently collaborates with a choreographer, dancers, a programmer and a filmmaker, adjusting and directing the project to fit different media. Culture is ultimately an experience, and Pollmann hopes to create this by working in a holistic manner. However, she then hides in her studio from time to time to work on the physical pieces such as masks and other elements of their dress. The overall aim is to challenge people's notion of nationality: the 'Greek' dance sirtaki was invented for the film Zorba the Greek and is a great example of how we invent and design national identities, so culturing the inter-nation aims to have a similar effect. Pollmann sees this as a long-term project that will develop more and more details over time. She hopes it will forge a real culture someday. For now, there is a graphic novel she is working on that might turn into a series, but her 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 part of the museum's activity, and exists to provide practising designers with time and space away from their regular environment to reflect, research and consider new ways of developing their practice.