Wafting through the dark entrance to Decode, into the glowing electro-cornfield of Daan Roosegaarde’s ‘Dune’, there’s a palpable sense of excitement from the anticipating masses. A feeling that we are leaving the everyday behind in the V&A foyer and entering into a colourful glimpse of the future.
So having been to the future, what’s it like? Well, people seem to laugh a lot. Adults become children and throw virtual paint at videowalls, blow virtual dandelion parachutes around the room with hairdryers and watch virtual trees swaying in time to the wind outside. In other words, it’s a bit of a laugh.
Decode brings together innovations in coding, networks and interactivity, and on the serious side, the power of networks and the influence of user-generate content is in evidence here. But a digital clock, where the ever-changing numbers are photographic contributions from the public, is as deep as it gets.
The visually inspiring Code section of the exhibition, showing off code as a design tool, includes Radiohead’s touchy-feely ‘House of Cards’ video by James Frost and Aaron Koblin.
The interactive section is where the real fun starts. Ross Phillips’ ‘Videogrid’ encourages every extrovert to make a one second contributuion to an ever-changing video wall of looped moments.
Mark and Phillipa become part of the exhibition
Throw your hands in the air!
Mehmet Akten’s ‘Body Paint’ had us jumping, waving and throwing shapes in front of a wall responding with bursts of colour to every movement. An interactive Sony Bravia ad just waiting to be ripped from the V&A and installed on every bus shelter in the country!
The exhibits on display here aren’t changing the world. But they are maybe changing the way we look at the world. And raising a smile along the way.
