A Hub for Times Square

This competition entry for this information kiosk for the New York public arts organization Creative Time responded to the visual noise of Times Square with the insertion of a simple, banal object. Its form is controlled almost entirely by the material it contains and by the act of removing this material. Thousands of pieces of printed matter or packaged technical devices are stacked into piles, wrapped in a thick plastic membrane, like an anonymous parcel, deposited on Times Square. The membrane, welded into a perfect geometric shape, fits loosely over the content. Folds and bulges, from piles pushing against the membrane, generate an accidental form. The contents are faintly visible through the plastic, enticing passersby to enter and explore. Over the course of an exhibition, as material is taken away by visitors, the piles diminish, making the object more transparent and slowly changing the exterior form.