Transitional Spaces

Ok, so the first project was set today. It is a video project on 'Transitional Spaces'. I shall be working in a group and we will be taking 20 still images, before swapping the idea with a group who have filmed something, they will then take on our project and we will edit and make something from theirs.

Firstly, what do we mean by 'transitional spaces'? I decided to see how it was defined first. I took the words apart and looked at transition first,

I believe that transitional spaces are places that we use frequently but that often don't hold much importance for us. They are places we use to reach a destination or to accomplish something. Examples of transitional spaces include lifts (elevators), motorway service stations and everyday places or things like car parks, buses and even cars.

Something that fascinates me with transitional spaces is the fact that you don't really think about them, they don't seem important and you don't tend to consider them a part of your day, but they're an important part of life. The things we do in them and the way we pass our time in them makes them more than just spaces. By using them we give them character and make them places rather than just spaces. Often if the space is a private one (such as a car, or a room) we end up making it reflect us as people and our passions.

The idea that we have an influence on the transitional spaces (the things we do in places, graffiti, chewing gum stuck to furniture etc. and things left behind in transitional spaces, eg. newspapers left on trains) also works both ways. Sometimes it is the transitional spaces themselves that have an effect on us. For example, a bus that is late or doesn't show up inconveniences us and we could end up talking to a stranger or altering plans, getting a drink or doing some shopping while we wait for the next bus.

While researching this I came across someone who's instillation project makes use of transitional spaces. They set it up in the Siemens World Headquarters in Munich and people walking through the lobby come entrance set off the instillation, bringing up photographs on a big screen. You can view this project here.

Now that I've considered what transitional spaces are, I can research on the idea and come up with my own ideas for still images that can be turned into a video.