Harringay Car Park Becomes a Pallet Paradise

One half of a Harringay carpark is getting turned into a labyrinth of hidden rooms and performance spaces for a one-off weekend in October (Sat 17 - Sun 18 Oct 2015).

The organisers explain "Pallet Paradise is an immersive installation that turns the traditional concept of an arts venue on its head – placing the audience in the heart of the environment and removing the idea of claustrophobic white walls".

Created out of 629 upcycled pallet boxes, the team of artists have been working together for 14 months to realise this ambitious experience.

The former carpark is one of several industrial spaces in the Harringay Warehouse District, including Omnibus – a double decker bus converted into an events venue.

Eight artists have been collaborating on the creation of the installation across a range of disciplines; digital, craft, sculpture, storytelling, music and painting. For this commission they have been challenged to combine their disciplines with pallet boxes, lighting and interaction with the viewer.

Photographer, Edmund Fraser, is taking a break from working with leading brands Universal / Island Records and instead creating new work for his 3D motion gallery where the digital portraits eerily follow you as you walk back and forth. Carolina Khouri, Polish-Lebanese visual artist, is also exploring the different experience this exhibition allows her to create. “I normally create abstract paintings on canvass” said Carolina “but this event has challenged me to think differently, now I have created an experience using prisms and pallets to distort light in a hidden space. Nothing like working in a normal gallery.”

“When you first walk through the Pallet Paradise archway, you’ll be surprised by the experience. You’ll not know where to turn or what to explore first.” said Jenna Jardine, the other half of the creator duo. Jenna, established 3D artist and warehouse resident, dreamt up the idea with Joe Wright, an architect based in the warehouse community. “Pallet Paradise not only challenges the viewer in how they react with the piece but also how the artist created work for the space” said Jenna. “We wanted to create an immersive space that would blur the lines between arts and environment to encourage the viewer to interact and immerse themselves within our Pallet Paradise.”

The process has certainly unleashed their inner child. “I have a 3 year old son” says Joe “and I honestly think I’m having more fun creating Pallet Paradise than he does running around Finsbury Park.”

Pallet Paradise opens with two days of workshops, installations and live performance on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October 2015. Daylight hours are children friendly, with the evenings strictly 18+ as the installation lights up with more live music artists, and a bar available.

Full listings of workshops and performers to be announced soon. Free entry, with donation boxes available to help contribute to the event costs.