Somewhere – and I am not sure where – I had read about the new installation at the usually inspiring Curve exhibition space at Barbican. Following a wonderful steward training for this year’s Womad Festival (thank you Alan for bringing humour to Health and Safety) at All Hallows London Wall I decided that rather than go home right away I would instead pop-in to the nearby Barbican. I suddenly ‘had’ to see this new installation. Pop-in? I guess Barbican is never really a place you can pop into as after the walk along the yellow guided line from Moorgate there is always the feeling THAT THERE IN NO TURNING BACK. I have been CAPTURED by Barbican until further notice. Fortunately there could be worse places to be captured (the redeveloped underground exits from Kings Cross immediately spring to mind) and as I have a fairly good idea of the lay out due to probably 100 plus Barbican visits I (relatively) quickly found The Curve. Shoes off, bag down (yes go, then you will see why) I entered the installation created by Junya Ishigami and, to be honest, tried to make sense of it. White. String. Er, what is there to see? To feel? As you do, or I often do, initially I think ‘there must be more to this’? Did I feel raindrops? (I did but there were none, perhaps I was already at the festival). Is something about to happen? (How long do you wait?)

Gently wandering down between the ‘structure’ and the wall – it does make you wander slowly and gentle, honest – I gradually began to enjoy the space. The clarity. The nothingness almost. My mind had switched off from Health and Safety and with my body was now slowly being transported into a different space, tranquil yet questioning, strange but possibly true, here and probably now. At the end of the walk along the ‘structure’ I read a little more from the sheet I was kindly given at the entrance, but couldn’t take anything in. Words did not do anything, and felt inappropriate here. One of the invigilators, however, was beginning to explain about the installation to another visitor and then I got involved. Suddenly I could ‘see’ (at times) something I hadn’t done earlier, I almost felt I was now part of the game, I was playing The Curve, I was enlightened! I appreciated the delicate and minute detail of the piece. I appreciated the beauty of the whole world. I was inspired. I was excited when someone new passed by on the other side of the structure. I had become party to the secret of this wonderful installation.

I shall say no more, just please visit – Architecture as Air has something to offer that you will not have seen before, and the yellow line actually is very helpful in getting you there.