REFERENCE: Traps and Manoeuvres

Often in my influences, film plays a big part in inspiring me in the use of space to create mood and express narrative. In the realm of film, anything is possible in terms of set design.

In this scene from Resident Evil (2002) not only does the space captivate me, but the way in which the characters move within the space. What really strikes me about this scene is how bright it is. Clean, light, nothing to hide. What often tends to happen in film, is that there is a common association between small spaces with tension and this often means dark, uncomfortable, and shadowed sets -making us fear what we can't see. In this instance, the corridor is anything but, it's stark. And it works in the film's favour. The starkness and sterile nature of the scene will make everything  that happens within it more pronounced. In most films, it's what we can't see, what we make for ourselves that is more terrifying. In a daring juxtaposition, it is challenging us to face what the scene is about to present with a candid reality. What is more terrifying is that they want us to see.

 

Resident Evil (2002) directed by Paul W.S. Anderson

One of the other great qualities about this scene is how it dictates the movement of the charcters trapped within it. As these lasers begin to cross through the length of the corridor, the characters have no choice but to evade as best they can to survive. It breaks the already small space into even smaller ones, adding to the claustrophobia and lack of escape that dooms the characters.

It just goes to show that there aren't any rules when using spaces to create a particular atmosphere, it is how you utilise what goes beyond just the space with imagination that make these scenes iconic.

PRACTICE: The Childhood Hideaways

At some point, we have all draped blankets across our bedroom, or the living room to create our own dens and spaces. It seems to be a common childhood activity from our memories, building our own escapes. Tents, and dens and small spaces that we use to transport us to a different place. Our imagination was able to take us to a parallel space than the one we created. I love that idea that we instinctively create spaces for ourselves, trying to mould and change the world to fit us, rather than trying to make ourselves fit into the world. This type of innocent play and exploration slowly leaves us as we mature. It's very reminiscent of stories like "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe", how our need for imagination powers our world. I feel like it's something very rooted in my interests. Remembering the love I had for creating spaces of my own out of anything I could find, bed sheets, curtains, duvets, pillows, just to create my own hideaway, my own escape, my own space and world.

The Hiding Place (1998) by Bjore Bjarre

In a way I suppose that is still what I am hoping to capture in my work, that same childlike wonder and curiosity for building spaces and playing within them. I think that it is nice to be reminded of a safe haven we liked to keep as children, and even now we are still moulding the world to try and fit round us as best we can.