threshold1 (2003)

‘reception’ at Ledingham Chalmers.

Our work at Ledingham Chalmers was where we first became deeply fascinated by the world of the reception space. The more we considered this space the more apparent it became that reception spaces were ‘threshold’ spaces – they offer powerful opportunities for marking the boundaries between outside and inside, the private-self and the public-self, our expectations and fears, our greetings and goodbyes.

In considering the reception space at Ledingham Chalmers, we began by looking for ways to connect the intellectual activity and core values of the company and its staff to the spaces they occupy. As we explored this theme, we decided to find ways of engaging the company’s own staff in creating a digital artwork, both representative of the individuals themselves and reflective of the company as a whole.

Eight staff members from Ledingham Chalmers were interviewed. Various themes and meanings revealed themselves through this process – from personal motivations, passions and pleasures, to views on art, aspirations and the meaning of success. The words they used to describe themselves were used as part of the three video-works we created.