Colorful + euphoric transformation with Yazmin Dababneh
Our focus has always been on objects that exist in space - and how objects affect our physical, domestic and personal space.
But what about space itself? Even in the absence of an object can space ever truly be empty?
My personal curiosity in this query led to a conversation with artist Yazmin Dababneh and her explorations of light - how light can be an objectless "object" - filling and transforming a space yet "taking up" none. And as a result of this conversation, I am proud to present:
YayaLand Takeover II
Experiencing the 'takeover' of my own work environment (the gallery) by the ever shifting colors from the early morning to night has been an exercise in awareness, not only capturing my focus with the beauty and surreal-ness of the color-bathed space but also fine-tuning my awareness of just how much the light shifts throughout the day. A shift so habitual it was rarely noted.
Well, I can attest, with Dababneh's installation this once subtle shift has indeed become a notable, conversation-worthy event - our space being transformed almost hourly as the shadows and spectrum of colors change.
I doubt I will ever notice the sun coming through our windows the same as before. Is that not the beauty and power of the art and design object? (Even if it is not an object?!)
Stay curious,
IMW
Meet Yazmin Dababneh
“My practice is shaped by explorations of light and glass.
I endlessly manipulate the interaction between them. I also explore how the introduction of other materials transforms the optical and emotional presence of light and glass.
YayaLand Takeover I & II are examples of how immersive and interactive environments can be created or transformed through these seemingly simple material explorations.”
“After covering as many lights as I could in order to take documentation, I envisioned what it would be like to cover the entire campus with this iridescent film-- classrooms, stairwells, bathrooms, and even closets.
I imagined what it would be like if when everyone came back in the Fall semester they were bathed in this colorful atmosphere, the color following wherever they went.
How could that re-shape our perspective?”
“The concept of ‘YayaLand Takeover’ came to me at the stroke of midnight (literally) ... I was taking a break from working in the College for Creative Studies Glass Studio and walked outside to get some fresh air.
I took a seat on a bench near the Yamasaki Building. I used to eat my lunch there when I first came to CCS back in 2016.
I sat there taking it all in, examining the campus and contemplating my time at CCS - knowing that soon I would be graduating and moving on from this familiar environment.
As I was admiring the brickwork of the Yamasaki Building, I noticed the way the lighting amplified the texture, I suddenly had a thought ...”
“What would it look like if I covered those lights with dichroic film?” I immediately ran inside the hot shop to grab some sample pieces from my locker to test out my vision, all the while eagerly repeating: Something’s happening, something’s happening!”
“Ultimately, the "takeover" did not extend to the interior spaces but I ran wild with the exterior lights and the night-time landscape of the campus grounds is still transformed today by YayaLand Takeover I.
So I am excited to create the second rendition of this series within the interior space of I.M. Weiss Gallery.”
“I believe color, and specifically iridescent color, inspires people to be in the moment, to allow themselves to be curious... contemplating what’s happening between the shifting colors almost immediately commands our attention.”
“Being able to stop somebody in their tracks even just for a moment, especially in this fast-paced world, is such a valuable connection for me as an artist and a human.”
“Color (which is light) creates an equitable experience everyone can interact with. Even for those that are colorblind or blind, I believe there is an energetic presence of light that affects you on a cellular level. It raises your overall vibration.
I hope someday I'll have the amazing opportunity to create these colorful euphoric experiences across the city of Detroit itself.”