Week 1
The week of introductions, I’d be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous. I have been fascinated with installation art ever since my trip to Vienna, I had the pleasure of seeing the exhibition called “Death to pigs” by Ydessa Hendeles.
Even though I was rather young and did not fully understand the point to any of the compositions, I was at awe. Confused mostly but also curious as to what was going on.
This leading to the first class work for my team. We were to check out a few stores at MBS and take note of all they have to offer, this being visually, emotionally and if they meddled with the other senses.
The first store we went to was in Aesop, I had not heard of the brand before but will certainly not forget them now. Right from the yellow-orange lighting to the sand wall-like appearance, it reminded me of Dubai. The layout was minimal while the smells that floated around the room like sandalwood and faint lemon. The staff was rather friendly and there were no price tags on any of the items, Ker Xuan my teammate remarked that it was a marketing tactic.
There was a long metal basin placed for us to try out the products which consisted of bath and skin products with some scents. It seemed that if one were to buy anything from the store, they are forced to do so with the help of staff, otherwise finding what you want would be a bit confusing.
The next store we went to was Gentle Monster, which I have known prior due to their social presence. It has, however, come to my knowledge that almost everyone already knows who they are. The store was immediately intimidating, all about the corners of the store were installations or “dystopian disruptions” as I liked to call them. My teammate Mark had to ask the staff if it was okay to take photos of the artworks as the store felt very high-end, thus making us feel out of place. All these stores that are outside our budget seem to make us feel out of place and intimidated I guess. I say “Us” but I must say I was too busy staring at the eyewear to feel intimidated.
The window display had no products on display, thus, acting as a fishing net. The shock value draws the customers, as this would be sure to work as the people who come for shopping at MBS are people who have money to spend. The Dystopian works seem to reflect on a world after ruin, a future within the rubble. The window display seemed to be a depiction of space, with the whole thing, there were satellites and alines that moved while the inside reflected remnants of the leftovers from after a disaster.
I must note that My teammates spent considerable time rubbing our shoes against the carpet whose texture quite intrigued us, that was until we noticed what we were doing and stopped. The rest that was within the store are as follows.
- No noticeable smells
- Clean cut layout for the products
- Dystopian music
We walked passed TWG which looked like the sun, while “The staff looks like butlers” remarked Mark to which I very much agree. It seems like a place I’d visit once because of a pushy friend but that is mostly it. It smelled like sweets and tea. I did notice their beautiful packaging and their “old chich” vibe that they were going for.
My team then decided to group at Starbucks to gather our thoughts on what we have seen. I must say Starbuck’s look at MBS was THEE MOST BORING thing I have ever seen. The shop looked rather dull and unmemorable. I’d say all I remember for it is just brown everywhere.
The day ended and all I could think about was the calmness at Aesop, the Dystopian disruptions at Gentle Monster and gleaming sun at TWG. Well until I had my Body movement and Storytelling class at which I was thinking about movies and theatre plays.
