Test your Design IQ

MANILA, Philippines - Who is this Danish-Icelandic artist (born 1967 in Copenhagen, Denmark) who established a design laboratory for spatial research? He represented Denmark at the 50th Venice Biennale in 2003 and later that year installed “The Weather Project” in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern, London.

This artist has engaged in a number of projects in public space, including the intervention Green river, carried out in various cities between 1998 and 2001; the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2007, London, a temporary pavilion designed with the Norwegian architect Kjetil Thorsen; and The New York City Waterfalls, commissioned by Public Art Fund in 2008.

“The Weather Project” was installed at the London’s Tate Modern in 2003 as part of the popular Unilever series. The installation filled the open space of the gallery’s Turbine Hall.

He used humidifiers to create a fine mist in the air via a mixture of sugar and water, as well as a semi-circular disc made up of hundreds of monochromatic lamps, which radiated single frequency yellow light. The ceiling of the hall was covered with a huge mirror, in which visitors could see themselves as tiny black shadows against a mass of orange light. Many visitors responded to this exhibition by lying on their backs and waving their hands and legs. The work reportedly attracted two million visitors, many of whom were repeat customers.

Another installation is titled “Your Black Horizon,” a light installation commissioned by Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary in collaboration with British architect David Adjaye. The artist’s “The Parliament of Reality” is a permanent sculpture standing at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, which is based on the original Icelandic parliament, Althingi, one of the world’s earliest democratic forums.

He designed the facade of Harpa, Reykjavík’s new concert hall and conference center, which is under construction in Reykjavik Harbour, Iceland. In close collaboration with his studio team and Henning Larsen Architects, he has designed a unique facade consisting of large quasi bricks, a stackable 12-sided module in steel and glass. The facade will reflect the city life and the different light composed by the movements of the sun and varying weather. During night the glass bricks will be illuminated by different colored LED lights. The building is expected to open in May 2011.

Last week’s question: Who is the Emmy and Telly Award-winning celebrity chef best known for revitalizing the menu of the iconic American resto Tavern on the Green, for his love of music, and for serving as an inspiration for African-American chefs?

Answer: Patrick Clark

Winner: Melody Samonte of Project 8, Quezon City

Text your answer to 0917-9498721 with your name and address. One winner will be chosen through a raffle of texts with the correct answer. The winner will receive P2,000 worth of SM gift certificates for use at Our Home, SM Department Store, or SM Supermarket. They can claim their prize at Our Home in SM Megamall. Call the store manager at 634-1950, 634-1943. Bring photocopies of two valid IDs and a clipping of the Design Quiz issue in which you appear as winner.