Angles of Incidence, a dramatic and reflective art installation

Angles of Incidence is a dramatic and reflective art installation at the Inner Temple Gardens in London. Angles of Incidence is the result of a collaboration between Singapore artist-architect Randy Chan and British artist Philippa Lawrence under the 2013 ‘Artist-in-Residence Exchange (AiRx) Programme’ organised by the Singapore International Foundation and British Council. The SIF-BC AiRx programme is a residential and cultural immersion initiative that provides Singaporean and British artists the opportunity to gain new insights, understanding and inspiration through the exchange of ideas and perspectives with foreign communities. This reciprocal joint installation at the Inner Temple Gardens follows the premiere of the work at the Singapore Botanic Gardens in January 2014.
Chan and Lawrence’s Angles of Incidence makes use of reflective multi-faceted steel structures, some of which are patterned with Swarovski crystals, to create a dynamic relationship between the installation and its environment as it interacts with the landscape. The Swarovski crystals are used as a creative ingredient and intricately set into the structures, which allow visitors to observe a kaleidoscopic effect of the light and to experience the Inner Temple Gardens in an entirely new way. The choice of site locations arose from the artists’ decision to explore universal themes of heritage, memory and identity, all of which are deeply embodied in the two iconic gardens. The Inner Temple Gardens, which has been a central part of London’s history since the 12th century and the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore’s first nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are resonant backdrops for the installation.

For over a decade, Swarovski’s design and architecture collaborations have been a coveted opportunity for some of the world’s leading designers – including Ron Arad, Zaha Hadid, Tom Dixon, Ross Lovegrove, Tord Boontje and John Pawson - to experiment, develop and share their most radical ideas. It marks Swarovski’s first ever support for an art and architecture project travelling out of Singapore.