Re:Loaded
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![A small gun mounted vertically on a post with a number engraved on a pin fixed underneath it. The blurry, colourful background is a specially designed graphic wallpaper. The weapon is very detailedly manufactured: the grip is made of mother-of-pearl.]()
A temporary exhibition centred around decorated firearms celebrating the art and craftsmanship.
Royal Armouries, Leeds, 2023, temporary gallery. Photography by Philip Durrant.
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![A view of the temporary gallery. In the background are three walls with top-level blue lights illuminating graphic surfaces. In the foreground is a showcase with guns mounted on thin rods so they appear to float in space.]()
To reflect this rich history of firearms as symbols of power, wealth and luxury, we referenced high-end shopping malls' visual language to create a contemporary atmosphere to attract new audiences. The gallery design embodies a luxury retail environment's ambience, with walls resembling a series of retail facades. Neon signs hang within the space, adding drama and a sense of the art world. The floor is designed as a series of walkways that guide visitors through the exhibition. Introductory graphics are reminiscent of shopping mall information boards.
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![A showcase with eight guns mounted on three vertical posts, all pointing to the right, is shown. A person holding the exhibition guide is looking at the guns. Floor graphics read "This one is mine," while imagery on the gallery wall reads "Desire."]()
The exhibition focused on guns and their decoration. We used a minimalist approach to the mounts. The firearms are accompanied only by a reference number. This uncluttered visual composition allows visitors to focus entirely on the objects, immersing themselves in the craft and decoration of each piece.
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![A person sits on a bench reading an exhibition guide in front of a graphic introductory panel. At the top, the text says "Status symbols," and below, a recessed aperture contains guides for visitors to read as they view the objects.]()
To keep the showcases simple and label-free, all object information is within a handheld guide. It is designed to look and feel like a high-end gallery brochure and reflects the exhibition's dichotomy: high-end craftsmanship and ostentatious bling.
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![A Person stands in front of a large film projection showing a gold gun fired in slow motion. They hold an exhibition guide. In the centre are three circular benches. Two graphic introductory panels with neon lights above in the shape of a diamond.]()
The nonlinear exhibition draws visitors to its centre, where they can explore the different narratives. This space is defined by a set of circular benches and a projected film of a gold machine gun being fired.
The exhibition is built within a partly demolished gallery space. To manage surfaces, cables, lighting, sound and floor finishes, we conceived a ""box"" within a box, constructed from plasterboard, to provide a seamless graphic surface.
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![Bran Symondson-Baxter's artwork shows an AK-47 assault rifle decorated with love hearts; each message on the sweets changed to reflect the loss of innocence of many of the 'boy soldiers' the artist encountered.]()
In one section of the exhibition, Bran Symondson's artwork is displayed. His work subverts items of violence, such as the AK-47 assault rifle, transforming them into art by covering them in butterflies or love hearts. In this piece, the messages on the love hearts are changed to reflect the loss of innocence of many of the 'boy soldiers' the artist encountered.
