The Unilever Series: Miroslaw Balka, How It Is

In this vacation, I visted Tate Modern for Miroslaw Balka Boxes.

When I arrived there, from its back side, I saw a huge black metal box which scale was between architecture and sculpture. Turing to the main side, a ramp leaded to the inside of the box, the darkness. At first, it was truth that I cannot see anything. Later I could see some black figures around me and that was the other vistors. It was so terrifying to face the unknown. But with the trust in the organisation, I kept walking slowly until I touched the innermost wall. And I enjoyed listening to the footsteps or voices or applause in my walking process, which, for me, enriched the original simple interior space and made the black box alive! Furthermore, when I touched the material of the wall, I was so surprised that it was like velvet, soft and furry. Because I had thought it was just cold metal.

There are 2 main reasons I admire Balka Box. First, the work is only complete when the viewer enter. That is to say, HOW IT IS places emphasis on interactive behavior. In addition, the interior looks simplified. But what it brings, such as the darkness, the echo, the feelings from the material of the wall, withhold the people( I don't know if the verb is right or not, I wanna describe a kind of effect), both physically and psychologically. He chose to show the back side first to the viewers, and made a enough height for people to go underneath it. So not only the one who is in the box, but also the one who is surrounding the box, people could all join in the exhibition and have different reactions.