3st at NeoCon: Valcucine Showroom

We close out a busy week at NeoCon by announcing the installation of The Elizabeth Project (formally named E) at the Valcucine Showroom on the first floor of the Merchandise Mart. Ribbons of colored vinyl are cut by hand and infused in glass to create a cabinetry finish for the unique kitchen installations of the Italian kitchen manufacturer.

This collaboration with architect Gordon Gill and his (then) 9-year-old daughter Elizabeth was originally done in 2009, but only recently was installed at the Merchandise Mart in advance of NeoCon.

Thirst used motion capture technology and custom software written in Processing to sample Elizabeth’s energy as she danced in place. We then rendered studies of her movement before we working with Gordon to choose the right ‘still frame’ composition that would be transformed into the handmade final piece. The expression was of Elizabeth’s energy alone: preserving a moment in time that is kinetic and alive.

A short “making of” film documents the process from beginning to end.

An additional study in black was done for the New York showroom.