Instructions for controlling the rain

New York's MoMA presents the spectacular installation Rain Room, by the British Random International, which allows walking in a downpour without getting wet

The installation presented by the New York's MoMA in its space PS1 has its own manual. At first, the museum warns of the "significant" waiting times that are expected to visit it. And then, they inform the public that they "may get slightly wet" and recommend, for the piece to work in the most effective way, not to wear dark, of raincoat type or shiny fabrics or high-heeled shoes. But, why do they give these strange instructions? That's due to the presentation of the spectacular installation Rain Room, by the British art group Random International.

Rain Room consists in a room where there's a real downpour, and it is choreographed so that those entering in this space can interact with the piece and literally, control the rain. The result is amazing: when moving around the room, lit just enough to see the downpour, the visitor stops the water current when walking around without getting wet or touched by a drop.

You can even hear the sound and smell of rain. Random International is specialist in digital art and uses technologies ranging from 3D to Artificial Intelligence. Rain Room is their largest and most ambitious project to date and, in their course of action, which is to observe the human behaviour and build bridges between the real and the virtual world, has their characterizing factors: interaction, light and movement.

With this installation they expect to provide a full sensory experience: the control of the ungovernable forces of nature. This group was founded in London in 2005 by Stuart Wood, Florian Ortkrass and Hannes Koch, and new members have joined since, with "diverse talents," as they admit. This piece was presented at the Barbican Gallery in London in 2012 and it was a complete success. The MoMA allows the entrance in groups of ten and cannot ensure everybody can get in. Those who do not get it would have to content themselves with that boring days of uncontrollable rain.

More info: MoMA PS1 

Until July 28th, 2013

Aurora Aradra