Sebastian Kite: We will meet in the place where there is no darkness

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We will meet in the place where there is no darkness

In George Orwell’s dystopian classic 1984, the author makes reference to a place where there is no darkness. A place, our lead protagonist Winston Smith believes to be free from the oppression of the totalitarian state under which he lives. Deceived to visit this place by the state Police, Smith instead finds himself under the glaring lights of an interrogation cell, permanently lit to aid his state of torture. 

For We will meet in the place where there is no darkness artist Sebastian Kite has created a site-specific installation exploring the relationship between space, light and sound. Constructed as a pavilion within the gallery space, Kite’s work references back to Orwell’s interrogation room using light as a material to create an ever-evolving space. Constructed from a series of half-toned panels that suggest static or white noise, the space is further cut through it’s horizontal with a two-way mirror referencing the voyeurism, narcissism and sublimity at the heart of the interrogation process. Spatialised sound further acts to reinforce the dynamic while also dividing the space into four distinct areas.

Introduced into this space, a dancer acts as a protagonist, with each performance redefining the relationship between the architecture and the audio-visual score and composition. Held once a week live in the space, performances create a generative interplay of media creating an ever evolving space over the lifetime of the exhibition.

Sebastian Kite (b. 1986) is an installation artist and architect  based in London. Kite creates experiential environments to choreograph the sensory engagement of people with architectural spaces. His practice lies at the intersection of art and architecture, with a particular focus on site-specificity. Beginning with an analysis of the site, Kite's installations use structure, kinetics, light, performance, projection and sound as strategies to illustrate new readings of spaces.

Kite graduated as an architect in 2010  (Glasgow School of Art, Westminster School of Architecture) and also has a background in music.  Kite has exhibited work in both Europe and the US and is co-founder of Kite & Laslett studio, he also currently works as lead architect and designer at London-based design agency Jotta Studio. Notable works include Hue that toured Sweden, Berlin and London (2015) and AA (2015).