What kind of playground would you have designed as a kid? Wade and Leta’s Falling Into Place exhibition, located within the public rooftop garden atop the GINZA SIX luxury mall in Tokyo, looks remarkably like what I would have imagined. To me, it lives somewhere in between building blocks and a puzzle, both of which require your interaction to be complete. Commissioned by GINZA SIX, the studio’s only guideline was to create an interactive art piece for visitors that would be accessible to people of all ages, from 1 to 100. It’s an interesting examination of the various experiences visitors might have based on size, age, mobility, and other relative variables.
Six oversized structures in vibrant, juicy colors stand together seemingly by happenstance with their cutouts littered about. Visitors are encouraged to interact with both the positive and negative aspects of each object in the name of creating unpredictable fun. Whether it’s by relaxing, hiding, or figuring out your role in the exhibition’s greater scheme, the adventure is up to you.
There’s also a bit of a life lesson to be had: be spontaneous, be adaptable, and go with the flow. When you encounter obstacles or things don’t go as planned, a positive outlook can help lead you to better outcomes. Things will eventually fall into place, just as the exhibition’s title says.
Wade and Leta say that they “make music for your eyes” and have recently focused on creating physically interactive work for all ages. Based out of New York, both are originally graphic designers who have pushed into the physical realm of art and design. By combining eclectic, performative design and emotional visuals, they refuse to identify with any one discipline. The duo’s practice follows the belief that work and life are inextricably intertwined, as they live and create together every day.
Wade + Leta
To learn more about Falling Into Place and other works by the duo, visit wadeandleta.com.
Photography by Wade and Leta, Erika Hara, and Piotr Maślanka.
