Zaha Hadid Architects – Chicago Pavilion Film Installation

"A striking, 7 ½ -minute video installation by London artist Thomas Gray can only be seen at dusk and after. The installation, which evocatively conveys sounds and images of Burnham's Chicago as well as visions for tomorrow's metropolis, is crucial to cluing in parkgoers that this is a pavilion with a purpose, not a mere folly. My advice is that you go after dark when the Z-pod's exterior is lit up in orange, purple and green."
- Blair Kamin, Chicago Tribune, 5 August 2009 full review...

Moving-Image Installation of Chicago Past, Present and Future brings Burnham’s vision to life in Zaha Hadid’s extraordinary fabric pavilion.

Metropolis 2020 and the City of Chicago celebrated the centenary of the Burnham Plan of Chicago by commissioning Zaha Hadid Architects to design a pavilion and The Gray Circle to create a floor-to-ceiling multi-layered video installation. Working closely with ZHA, we developed the concept ‘Chicago Past, Present and Future’. Researching Chicago’s history, filming over hundreds of locations across the city and interviewing 65 prominent Chicagoans and local school children, with post production animation, our team, after post-production animation, accomplished a striking, 7 1/2 –minute video installation.

Film still from the pavilion interior installation

Don’t expect a traditional narrative on a confined screen. Walk into the 400 square foot pavilion and you’ll find a relatively intimate space, made large as you experience a seamless collage of beautiful, layered, moving images flowing around the curved fabric wall. People walking, standing and watching become part of the screen and can even touch the evocative images.

The unusual space and projected images are completely integrated. The architects actually changed the design of the interior after seeing The Gray Circle’s presentation back in January. The unique design of the Zaha Hadid Pavilion called for something which does more than tell a story so we created a film installation to stimulate imagination, energize into action and inspire.

A couple watching the pavilion interior film installation

The Gray Circle were chosen because we could integrate the video images into the architecture in a way that transforms the space, providing panoramic screens that could wrap round the curvature of the shaped fabric walls, as well as an unexpected approach to imagery. Technically, the Gray Circle was the only company which could achieve this. The installation uses multiple projectors as well as sounds from different locations within the building. Creatively, Thomas Gray founder and creative director sees with the eye of an artist and focuses more on engaging audience emotions than presenting a historical narrative. Like Burnham, Gray believes in the power of beauty and nature to transform, paying tribute to Burnham’s inspiration for Chicago.

For more details about the pavilion and events here...

Find out more about the rest of the creative team..

Zaha Hadid Architects - here...

Lou Mallozzi of Experimental Sound Studio - here...

Tracey Dear of Dear Productions - here...