CALL: Bompas & Parr and the Museum of Sex

The next stage has the working title Super Funland and will see the creation of a new world that straddles the worlds of sex, eroticism and the fun of the fair. It will be a permanent exhibition at MoSex’s Fifth Avenue location in New York and feature the works of a number of different artists in a number of different interactive exhibits that collectively take guests on an experiential journey into the world of sex in a new and unpredictable way.

We would like you to develop ideas for a particular exhibit which we detail below.

We would like to hear ideas for the creation of an interactive wall that references voyeurism through the use of technology.

It would also be beneficial if the technology employed also gathered data on users to generate data and new knowledge about our consumption of sexual imagery.

The guiding principle for this activation is a peep hole-style wall of buttoned leather that encourages guests to put their eye to the button in order for a visual reward. Please consider what imagery would best represent the aspirations of a museum as well as being compelling content for guests.

In order to generate that visual reward, it is acceptable to ask guests to perform certain tasks – such as positioning their body in a particular way or inserting fingers etc into the wall. Haptic ‘rewards’ such as a multi-sensory ‘shocks’  are also welcome.

The conceit here is that this exhibit operates at the periphery of voyeurism and embarrassment, thereby speaking to two societal behaviours relating to sex. As a result we are keen to explore the potential for collecting data on how users engage with the wall, what they are looking at, and whether that knowledge can tell us something new about how we relate to sexualised imagery. This could relate to eyeball tracking or another methodology.

We would like to see topline conceptual routes, as part of a digital presentation we can share with our client, which contextualises the exhibit and rationalises the choices you have made. We are keen to hear from your alumni as well as your student body. We would also like to understand what each of the routes requires from a technical standpoint and that you have given consideration to maintenance. Indeed, durability is of the utmost importance. These factors should be reflected in the materials, finishes and expectations for upkeep and replacement parts.

Entries should be accompanied by a short interpretation that conveys how the device fits thematically into the museum and what it communicated beyond its novelty.

For clarity, ITP and a named student/alum will be credited as the co-creators of the project if it is greenlit.

Space allowed: 2sq m