Reaction to Abstract: Es Devlin

I really enjoyed watching Es Devlin’s episode in the docuseries, Abstract, just as I have the previous two. There were several things that I found interesting and inspiring, and I’m gonna hit on a few of them in this blog.

Firstly, I really loved the way that Devlin used light and darkness as a main focal point in her work. It was fascinating to see her pieces of work shown throughout the episode and seeing how she used slits in projections or sheets or paper to allow light to flood through and create different moods and stage looks. Another cool design aspect I enjoyed was her fascination with depth and mirrors. The example of her mirror in the blackbox theater to create a glass box effect (even with no glass there) and adding a huge depth effect was incredibly fascinating.

I also really enjoyed the way she went through her creative process with what she called “ingredients.” She used Space, Light, Darkness, Scale, and Time. All of these aspects of art are what create the art and what make it unique. The use of, or lack of, each piece of design brings out the special characteristics of each set and performance.

Lastly, I was intrigued by how she described the idea of perception in a live audience/performance. Everyone in the arena has a different seat and different view of the stage, so everyone’s experience is going to be different. She even said that when people post photos on Instagram, it allows the performers to see themselves a way they never have before. I love how her work has gone into so much detail, that she considers every person’s view across the arena and attempts to create a unique experience for everyone.