Client: Acción Cultural Española

Overview

Type of project: Exhibition design,
Project: Yeosu Spanish Pavilion,
Location: Yeosu, Korea,
Status: 1st prize competition, Built,
Client: Acción Cultural Española,
Built up area: 500 m2,
Production: Manterola, Imagic, Nanuk,
Pavilion: Frade Arquitectos,
Art director: Chu Uroz,
Graphic design: Research Studio,
Audio Visual/Mapping: Onion Lab,
Exhibit Design and installations:
External Reference,
Project team: Nacho Toribio, Carmelo Zappulla
Collaborators: Marina Cella, Elsa Rodriguez

Goals

The exhibition project consists of 4 main stages:
1. In the entrance hall, the sea routes pioneered by Spanish voyagers are shown and explained to the visitor.
2. The central space shows three keymoments in Spanish seafaring: respectively, Colombo’s, Malaspina’s and Malaspina 2010’s expeditions.
3. The key area in the project is Deep Ocean. The visitors will enter a space which is lit up with samples containing water collected at a depth of 5000m. The shape of the samples is reminiscent of the tubes used by the Malaspina 2010 Expedition. This recent circumnavigation carried out by the Hesperides’ crew has allowed scientists to collect important data concerning the seas across the Earth.
In this area, Hesperides’ samples become more complex, turning into hi-tech glazed amphorae which generate a sort of abyssal topography. One of the key features of this experience is the projected mapping, which gives vitality to part of the installation through showing the vibrating water. Thus, Hesperides’ scientific research finally turns into a liquid luminescent landscape which recalls the abyss.
4. In the last room, a Dymaxion 11m map presents Hesperides’ discoveries. Once more, the enclosed water is the generative and informative pixel within the installation.