Colors of Upupa Epops

2024
Examining the Role of Play as a Transformative Force in Contemporary Design

Drawing inspiration from the colors of the Eurasian bird Upupa epops, the project featured a color-research installation and a modular, minimalist collection of game-board fragments. Participation and collective reflection were activated through various playful elements and game pieces. The curatorial concept of "Playtime" presented playfulness as a crucial pathway to liberating design practices. Commissioned by Banana Fish Gallery, Shanghai.

  • Colors of Upupa Epops: dot-ring posters and a color-research grid of dots flank white tables set with game-board fragments
  • Colors of Upupa Epops: hands stack faceted wooden game pieces on a board of split colour circles, dice scattered in play
  • Colors of Upupa Epops: a figure leans over the game board moving game pieces, dot-ring posters marked B, A, B behind
  • Colors of Upupa Epops: posters B, A, B loop colour dots around a blue egg, the middle grey, a color-research installation
  • Colors of Upupa Epops: two figures play at a white table over the game board, posters A and B and a colour-dot grid behind
  • Colors of Upupa Epops: blue polyhedral dice roll among green bumpy game pieces on a grey game-board of numbered circles
  • Colors of Upupa Epops: a table cradles game-board fragments and game pieces, posters A and B and a colour-dot grid beyond
  • Colors of Upupa Epops: faceted wooden game pieces stack on a ring of colour circles, dice tumble across the game-board
  • Colors of Upupa Epops: a seated figure lifts a game piece over the game board, posters A, B and a colour-dot grid around
  • Colors of Upupa Epops: green bumpy game pieces and blue dice settle on a grey game-board of white circles