OMA sets the scene for a collaborative performance at Faena Forum

Alan Faena and Ximena Caminos, the partners in business (and in life) behind the mammoth Faena Arts District, wanted to kick off Design Miami and Art Basel Miami Beach with a bang. The result: Once With Me, Once Without Me, a collaborative performance that took place this week involving choreographer Pam Tanowitz, dancers from the Miami City Ballet School, music by Dan Siegler, costumes by fashion designer Sybilla, lighting by Davison Scandrett, and scenography by the building’s architect, Shohei Shigematsu of OMA.
'Once With Me, Once Without Me' inside the OMA-designed Faena Forum.
To highlight the cultural space and multipurpose venue, which features a round room topped with an asymmetrical gridded dome, Shigematsu — who has also designed scenography for artist Taryn Simon and exhibition design for 'Manus X Machina' at the Met — conceptualised a white round stage with segments cut throughout in order to seat guests and create a sense of interaction with the movements of the modern ballet. ‘The scenography is basically recognising the feature of architecture to a full extent,’ explained Shigematsu.
The building’s extensive fenestration played a starring role within the performance, with Scandrett creating a lighting arrangement that used the angular openings to create a backdrop. ‘It’s a kind of virtual shadow and light that is a fast forward within a space, so it’s almost like making time and space almost projected in the actual architectural space, and actually recognising the feature of the space, and then the choreography happens with that,’ said Shigematsu.
Faena Forum (left) is the jewel in the district's crown.
Towards the end of the performance, which took two years of planning, came the big reveal — the movable wall that divides the space opened, and the dancers flooded through, followed by the audience, and guests could see the venue in its entirety.
‘We wanted to make the piece very specific to the building design, and also specific to this location, and the movement of the sound,’ said Shigematsu.
The building's architect Shohei Shigematsu designed the scenography for the show.
Davison Scandrett riffed on the building's unique fenestration for the performance's lighting arrangement...
..while fashion designer Sybilla brought her Spanish flair to the costumes.
Shigematsu conceptualised a white round stage with segments cut throughout in order to seat guests.
As the show reached its climax, the movable wall that divides the space opened, allowing guests to see the venue in its entirety.
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Faena website and the OMA website
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
-
Low-energy house in Catalonia minimises its footprint to make the most of its site
Alventosa Morell Arquitectes’ low-energy house in Catalonia nestles into the landscape
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Wallpaper* gift guide: shopping with design editor Rosa Bertoli
For serious design objects with a whimsical twist, delve into this playful gift guide
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
Ghana’s artists celebrated in new book by Manju Journal
‘Voices: Ghana’s artists in their own words’, from Manju Journal, celebrates 80 Ghanaian creatives
By Ugonna-Ora Owoh Published
-
Design Miami 2022: highlights from the fair and around town
Design Miami 2022 (30 November – 4 December) aims at ‘rebooting the roots of our relationship with nature and collective structures, ecospheres, and urban contexts’
By Sujata Burman Last updated
-
Nendo’s collaborations with Kyoto artisans go on view in New York
‘Nendo sees Kyoto’ is on view at Friedman Benda (until 15 October 2022), showcasing the design studio's collaboration with six artisans specialised in ancient Japanese crafts
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Italian craftsmanship comes to Los Angeles in this eclectic Venice Canals apartment
Boffi Los Angeles celebrates a juxtaposition of texture throughout a waterside bolthole
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Design Miami/Basel 2022 explores the Golden Age
Design Miami/Basel 2022, led by curatorial director Maria Cristina Didero, offers a positive spin after the unprecedented times of the pandemic, and looks at the history and spirit of design
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Kvadrat’s flagship New York showrooms encompass colourful design codes
Industrial designer Jonathan Olivares and architect Vincent Van Duysen have worked with Danish textile brand Kvadrat on the vast new space, also featuring furniture by Moroso
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
What to see at New York Design Week 2022
Discover Wallpaper’s highlights from New York Design Week 2022 (10 – 20 May 2022): the fairs, exhibitions and design openings to discover
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Colour defines LA ceramics studio and showroom of Bari Ziperstein
Step inside the multifunctional ceramics studio, office and showroom of designer and artist Bari Ziperstein, designed by local firm Foss Hildreth
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Design for Ukraine: Bocci and Design Miami join forces to raise funds
The online sale of iconic Bocci pieces will benefit GlobalGiving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, providing urgently needed humanitarian aid
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated