For this exercise I must refer back to exercise 2:2. In exercise 2:2 I discussed materials quite fully as I did not feel it was possible to discuss touch and emotion without mentioning materials. I believe the materials used played a large part in how I felt about the spaces I observed, the emotions they generated in me and the atmosphere created.

There is however one material I can explore further here, which played an important part within the spaces observed, which is glass. Although I have mentioned the use of glass for display cabinets I did not discuss it’s use in the large doors which lead into Galleries 1, 2, & 3 and the huge panes of glass which make up the window in gallery 4.

The glass doors allow light to travel into the galleries and when this is not wanted they are covered over as was done in gallery 2. Being able to first peer through the doors and get sight of what is inside can work to entice some in and for others they might not like what they see and decide it’s not for them. Covering the glass could also be enticing, curious to know what is behind the glass and intrigued to go inside. Again for others this can be off putting. At first instance I thought gallery 2 was closed as it appeared in darkness, it was not until I read a notice close to the door that I knew the public were welcome to go in. For the less curious or concerned this covering over of the glass could be a barrier to walking through and experiencing what is inside.

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For me the best use of glass was the huge window. It played a large part in creating the feeling of openness, freedom and space to breath in gallery 4. The seats at this window provided viewers a place to sit and enjoy an expansive view of the gallery but it also permitted viewers to look out and get a view of the city where old and new buildings can be viewed, trams fly past and the weekday cross is in direct vision. The glass provides an element of protection, viewers can sit for a time and watch the world go by. Behind the glass and within the gallery this does not appear strange or out of place, sit at the other side of the glass outside on the pavement and this could be viewed quite differently by passers by.

The large glass pains also put the gallery on display, another way of showing people what is being exhibited and stating ‘come in’ ‘you are welcome’ ‘you are accepted’. It portrays an element of friendless. There will always be times when it’s an individuals first time entering a gallery, some may feel it is not for them, that they do not fit or they will not understand what is inside? The large glass window aims to elevate these apprehensions and provides an invite to all.

To some extent the weather dictates the atmosphere within this gallery due to the glass window. The feel of the space will change as the temperature and light changes on the outside, providing a variation within the space even during the same exhibition.