Wallpaper by Jonathan Louie for the exhibit “Big Will”
From Jan. 21 through Feb. 18, the Rodger Mack Gallery in Building will feature the exhibition “,” investigating the optical effects, figural relationships and illusions found in , and ways in which these domestic images and decorations shape space and impact social relations. 鈥淏ig Will and Friends鈥 is a collaboration by Assistant Professor Jonathan Louie and Professor Stephen Zaima. The opening will take place Jan. 21 at 5:15 p.m. and feature a series of dance performances choreographed by architecture student Stephanie White. 鈥淏ig Will鈥 is free and open to the public
Structured as a series of three 7-foot-by-7-foot -type wallpapered rooms within the gallery鈥檚 linear space, it is affectionately named 鈥淏ig Will鈥 because it sits uncomfortably large in the space and takes up more space than it should. It will invite visitors to be part of, and alter, the perceptual and visual experience of the objects in the space. Through his work, Louie exploits the logics of wallpaper design to construct a habitable series of rooms, imprinted wearable suits and a series of wallpaper prints. Hung on the walls will be a series of architectural collages by artist Zaima.
Since its invention in the 18th century, wallpaper has been a popular medium for representing figures and historic symbols. It serves as an art form for altering architectural surfaces to perceptually alter the things people see. Says Louie, 鈥淭hrough two- and three-dimensional projections, the 鈥楤ig Will鈥 installation challenges the ways in which decoration and adornment affects our perception of space鈥攖he floors, walls and ceilings around us.鈥
In addition to teaching, is co-director of Architecture Office. He is one of four founding organizers for the , a platform for charging architectural experimentation outside of the mu颅seum and institution. His graduate studies were done at the University of California Los Angeles, where he graduated with distinc颅tion and is the recipient of the 2脳8 Award and University Fellowship. In the fall of 2016, he will take up residency in Peterborough, N.H., as a Fellow.
As associate dean in VPA, is currently active with various global initiatives, especially in New York City. He was coordinator of the University鈥檚 studio arts program in London in 1987 and Florence in 1995-1996 and 1997-1998; more recently, he has taught in Berlin. Zaima received an M.F.A. from the University of California at Davis in 1971.
Dancers performing at the opening event are University students Stephanie White, Cameron Spera, Charlotte Brennan and Emily Pelletier.
The 鈥淏ig Will and Friends鈥 exhibition is made possible by support from the School of Architecture and the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
