For most people, roses are the flower of choice on Valentine’s Day. Not for The Public in West Bromwich. This February a spectacular collection of giant futuristic looking flowers light up the Black Country arts centre.
The colourful, intricate sculptures, designed by artists Hsiao-chi Tsai from Taiwan and Kimiya Yoshikawa from Japan, combine light, sound, art and interactivity, to produce a visually stunning series of plant-like works.
Having first been displayed at PM Gallery & House in London in 2012, the collection will now be on display at The Public until 6 May 2013. To enhance the visitor experience, the Black Country venue have commissioned interactive artist Matt Venn and sound artists, Circumstance, to work alongside Tsai and Yoshikawa in a unique collaborative project, introducing a new dimension to the work. The result of which has seen the eye-catching flowers come to life and digitally bloom, rhythmically illuminating and relaying sounds as visitors explore the exhibition.
The bright, bold structures, which are suspended both from the ceiling and in a giant 5 foot decorative glass vase, draw inspiration from the artist’s Asian heritage. Made using a combination of abstract plastic shapes, they are both explosive in nature and contemporary in design.
Tsai and Yoshikawa met in the Chelsea College of Art and Design in 2000. After gaining BA degrees in 2004, they continued their studies at the RCA, graduating with Masters of Art in Mixed-media textiles, and Sculpture respectively. The London based artists have exhibited across the world in Taiwan, Germany, France and the Netherlands, as well as having been commissioned by Harvey Nichols department store to create seven art installations called Futuristic Flowers for their Spring/Summer 2007 windows.
Light and Dark Fantastic, will be displayed at The Public until 6 May 2013, Wednesday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm and Sunday, 11am – 3pm, and is free to visit.
For more information about exhibitions at The Public visit www.thepublic.com or call 0121 533 7161.
