As the world moves towards mordern warfare we are indifferent to the aftereffects it brings along. The need to create awarness and empathy worldwide for this cause has led to an effective solution - a pop up exhibition that can travel the world as a low cost method without the constraints of an institutional space.
Sketch Plan
Phase 3
Phase 1
Research
As we lie in the age of modern warfare, we constantly are on the brink of war. The cost we pay for advancing technology is loss of humanity. With the rise in nuclear power and ongoing world conflicts, war is inevitable. It is high time we start talking about the war crimes that modern warfare brings with it.
We need to create awareness of what war brings with it, sensitize people of what it feels like to stand in the shoes of the victims of these ongoing conflicts. Create a space to take action bring about change in the mindsets of people. Educate and sensitize them of the atrocities being faced by victims.
Design Theme
Phase 2
The design theme is Intangible - When I look at these victims I feel everything they once had is now unattainable we embrace intangibility as a disconnect from your life. We also incorporate Brutalism Architecture in the facade of the exhibition. We bring a new tangent - New brutalism is the approach to make the pop up stand out and be minimal yet functional at the same time. Along with its monochromatic look we add a pop of unexpected red as we correlate it with war.
Pop - up Exhibition Design
The purpose of the exhibit is to display what war leaves behind. However it does not show bloodshed or any gruesome visuals. We want to indirectly implicate the emptiness left behind by war. Navigating the sensitive and multifaceted nature of war-related topics. Balancing the need for factual accuracy with the responsibility to convey the human stories behind the conflicts required careful consideration and ethical judgment.
The exhibits are uniquely curated - paintings by children instead of a famous painter. Political cartoons to create awarness and a the fun of decoding. Photographs portrayed as emotions. Impactful installations and activities to engage. The facade itself has been kept very interactive, unconventional and disruptive in nature.
Modelled on Sketch up & rendered on Enscape.
Phase 4
Entrance
The only entry point is on this wall. The wall acts as dialogue starter when faced with a question “What scares you?”. This question aims to make viewers feel the difference between their fears and the startling answers of war victims.
The wall also acts as a feedback wall towards the end of the exhibition where people can write their own fears.
Signage with concrete cover stone structure juxtaposed with red acrylic. Works as a two way signage. With a QR code to engage with the pop-up’s social media initiative to spread awareness and start a dialogue.
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Paintings by Children
Instead of taking artist renowned paintings this exhibition has called upon the little survivors to paint their perspective of war. The colorful and bright yet disturbing paintings are a thrill to decode. Accompanied with the names and age of each little soldier.
There is also an exit only on this wall which is right opposite the entrance. This acts as a crowd controlling feature. There is also a peek hole right above that gives a different perspective into our main installation - The Intangible.
Artefacts by victims
These artifacts are by victims that have shared their valuable memories with us to hope for a better future. To let their stories be known. Each artifact has a story with it accompanied with postcards where the victims write a message to the viewers themselves. These postcards are open to take away,
Comic Wall
These are political cartoons that have a satirical take on the political reasons of these wars. Each comic is based on a particular ongoing conflict in the world. This wall aims to make people aware of the several ongoing war conditions while also letting viewers decode and understand each of these cartoons.
They are also accompanied with scaled down newspaper prints - that give an overall review and information for each war. The newspaper is meant to be left back after reading.
Refugee Wall
This wall is dedicated to show one of the largest displacement problems of the world caused by the Ethiopian ethnical conflict.
The map shows one of the most difficult migration routes - The eastern migration route, that goes through extreme dessert, water and mountains. Still millions cross this in order to gain a better lifestyle. The map shows the route, the deaths, the means of travel, refugee camp stops - using icons.
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Activties
This wall is dedicated to making an actual difference in the real world. The first activity - assembling a sexual assault investigation kit on a conveyor belt. The other stall sells ceramics to help feed victims of war.
There is a live tally behind both that shows how many lives have been improved by each of the visitors. There is also a shed to protect engagers from heat at any point of the day. The activities are a good way to engage the audience.
Photography Wall
The wall shows lenticular prints on the left face of the exhibition. Each photograph is accompanied with a flip - black and white image that shows the emotion in its correspondent image. Also accompanied by powerful titles.
The wall also has some open frames that allow its viewers to peek into the exhibition before entering it, to make the space more interactive and take a playful approach to the design theme - intangible.
Installations
The Intangible is the main installation of the exhibition positioned in the center of the room. In line with the design theme the installation shows hand of victims trying to reach for the dining table suspended directly above the hands.
The minimal dining table indicated a normal lifestyle - not too fancy just the very basic lifestyle these people once had jeapodised as they bargain with life everyday, struggling to find food every single day.
Surrounding that is a roof made out of the shipping container walls, that has bullet holes in it. These holes show that although light an open source is a limited hope in the lives of these victims.