Total Installation Expansion: Mike Nelson "Coral Reef"

Abstract

In this article, the author explores the viewer's experience of M. Nelson's installation "Coral Reef," a work by a prominent member of the Young British Artists. The artist deliberately constructs the space to highlight the boundaries of perception and the limitations inherent in modern socio-political structures. By creating an environment where viewers cannot fully grasp all elements of the artwork, Nelson draws attention to the concepts of visibility and invisibility, as well as the unseen constraints of contemporary life. This artistic strategy leads viewers to navigate the installation's boundaries, planning their movements and attempting to map the space's shape. The ensuing experience provides valuable insights into how viewers interact with the work's spatial dimensions. The study is based on interviews with the artist and curator K. Wallis, as well as an analysis of visitors' visual patterns. A comparative approach is employed, distinguishing between the artist's design intentions (invisible) and the narrative elements (visible) of the installation. This method allows for a deeper understanding of how the viewer's perception space is formed. The dynamic nature of the installation, blending various artistic practices, creates an environment that prompts viewers to reflect on their own interactions with the work. The sketches and observations of visitors further illustrate this process, revealing the complex interplay between the artwork's design and the viewer's subjective experience.