Ventilation Dress II

Barber, C. (2016). Ventilation Dress II [inflatable sculpture]. Exhibited at Zebedees Yard, Whitefriargate, Hull July 1 - August 21 2016 and at Hull University Gallery, Hull September 6 - September 27 2016.

Da Vinci Engineered: From Renaissance mechanics to contemporary art exhibition was presented at Zebedees Yard in Hull and curated by Lara Goodband. The exhibition examined how engineering, through practical applications and concepts, has inspired and been used by artists today and presented me with the opportunity to re-think my practice in developing the artwork Ventilation Dress II in relation to engineering, flight and Leonardo Da Vinci.

Ventilation Dress II takes the form of an auxiliary ventilation fan. The flowered pattern design is the same as that on a dress worn by the 1972 National Coal Queen to the National Coal Mining Reunion in 1976. The blue floral dress and the silent fan act as a plinth to each other. Both elements are born form the concept of introducing fresh air into miners’ lives.