The Taxonomy of Spatial Function
1. Social Reality: the building and all the parts within that are needed to make it work
2. Physical/ Fictional Relationship: the relationship between the actual stage space and the set created
3. Location and Fiction: the actual set and the suggested/implied set
4. Textual Space: the story, the text, the verbal information
5. Thematic Space: the meaning gained from the whole experience – from bringing all the above spaces together
(A Taxonomy of Spatial Function - From Space in Performance by Gay McAuley 2000)
For our brief, taxonomy of spatial function is really important to keep in mind, especially concerning the V&A. The grandeur of the building itself and large glass installation hanging from the centre of the ceiling (see photo above) are what you first consider on entering the V&A and I think these features work effectively as a visual stimulant to put you in the mind-set of appreciation of aesthetics and design. Further into the building however, it’s a maze of dark corridors and staircases and the Theatre and Performance gallery is extremely hard to find – tucked away in a far corner, only accessible through several other varied gallery spaces. I think that walking through and considering the other galleries and their artefacts, such as the jewellery, results in a comparison and I know that for me whilst I explored the Theatre and Performance space, I was conscious of leaving enough time to go back to jewellery as it had appeared so much more exciting even from first glance. Somehow the Theatre and Performance gallery needs to make the audience forget about everything they’ve just seen and completely immerse visitors right from the entrance to the space.
Sources:
Image: Glass Sculpture by Dale Chihuly https://annebernecker.wordpress.com/2010/11/21/inside-the-va-cromwell-road-london/
Class Lecture: A Taxonomy of Spatial Function: The Audience Experience of a Space by Lara Furniss
