Idle TIme (2024)

Installation at Union Square, Canary Wharf, London, UK
Laser Projection onto building construction tarpaulin. Two lasers, computer running custom software

Animated figures in the form of line drawings, can be seen ‘at rest’. Relaxing. Taking a moment. Talking to a friend. Scratching an itch. Pondering. Contemplating. Doing nothing that can be deemed ‘productive’ at all.

The technologies behind the work, lasers and motion capture, were both designed to achieve maximum efficiency. Motion capture was born from the tradition of ‘Time and motion studies’, where human motion in the workplace was analysed to create ever-more efficient ways of working.

Rather than use ‘dramatic’ motion capture performances such as dancing and acrobatics, this piece shows people going through more everyday actions, walking, standing and looking. As if they have been captured unaware,

In a world where our time is optimised, Idle Time encourages us to follow the lead of the characters we see, and take a breather.

Links: