A Layer of Paint

An interactive spatial installation directly linked to a lesser-known historical case study from 1918, – the ‘Colour Ward’ by HK Prossor was designed for PTSD patients and is one of the earliest examples for the exploration of the spatial impact has on healing. Based on a particular paint colour scheme, but designed in a period pre-colour photography, visitors of the installation experience a monochromatic environment accompanied by audio of original archival descriptions. This highlights the challenges of researching historical interiors, particularly through the complexity of colour and its conservation. By requiring the visitor to snap a picture with their smartphone, colours reveal themselves and are instantly archived. The installation alters colour perception and enables one to experience the complexity as well as subjectivity of the use of colour in interiors.