Polyphonic Playground is a ground-breaking, playable structure commissioned by Fashion Space Gallery, London College of Fashion and designed by Studio PSK . It was last on display at Sonic Arcade: Shaping Space with Sound at the Museum of Art and Design, New York from 22 August 2017 – 11 February 2018.
Inspired by the inherent joy of using playgrounds as a child, this installation encourages adults to re-discover this experience of play. Taking the archetypal elements of a playground – swings, slides, climbing frame – and combining them with the musical mastery of beatboxer Reeps One, a landscape of playground activities are transformed into musical instruments when used. A timber framework creates the iconic playground pieces at adult scale. Combining these with custom electronics, woven electronic textile and BARE conductive paint, each object gains another level of interactivity.
The installation was previously shown at Maintenant Festival in Rennes, France, Crossover Festival in the Olympic Park, London, the House of Vans in London, at LCF Mare Street as part of London Design Festival in September 2015, at Ventura Lambrate in Milan during the Salone di Milano in April 2015 and in Miami during Art Basel in December 2014.
Various iterations of the project continue to be produced and showcased to engage with different audiences and varying soundscapes across the world – turning our built environment into a versatile instrument.
Previous appearances:
7 October – 16 October 2016, Maintenant Festival, Théâtre du Vieux St-Etienne, 14 rue d’Échange, Rennes France
30 July – 31 July 2016, Crossovers, Polyphonic Playground x Studio Wayne McGregor, Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 3BS
29 January – 21 February 2016, House of Vans, Arches, 228-232 Station Approach Road, London SE1 8SW
23 – 27 September 2015, London Design Festival, London College of Fashion, 182 Mare Street, London E8 3RE
14 – 19 April 2015, Ventura Lambrate, Milan