London Design Festival 2011: audiences sit inside the 238 pockets of a giant red dress worn by performers at York Hall in London this week.

The Finnish Institute in London has installed Reddress by design duo Company at York Hall in Bethnal Green for the London Design Festival.

The dress is made from over 550 metres of fabric by Danish brand Kvadrat and is 20 metres in diameter.

Performances from Finnish musicians over three evenings entertain spectators.

The installation has previously been shown in Germany (see our ealier story here), Norway and Denmark.

See all of our stories about the London Design Festival here.

Photographs are by Kate Elliott.

Here is some more information about the installation:

REDDRESS

Exclusive performance line-up and guest designers unveiled for REDDRESS and REDSHOP

The Finnish Institute in London is delighted to announce an exciting programme of music, performance and discussions for its groundbreaking project, REDDRESS, taking place during London Design Festival (LDF). Designed by Aamu Song, REDDRESS is an installation and performance space in the form of a colossal, red dress.

From 22 to 25 September, REDDRESS will be exhibited for the first time in London at York Hall in Bethnal Green. Realised in over 550 metres of Kvadrat’s classic Divina wool fabric, this extraordinary red dress is worn by a performer who will climb a concealed staircase to immerse herself into the billowing material. Reaching an impressive 20 metres in diametre, the dress can accommodate up to 238 people within the gigantic pockets of its folds allowing the audience members to fully engross themselves into the space and moment.

Taking to the REDDRESS evening stage is unique debut collaboration between established Finnish musicians; vocalist Emma Salokoski and guitarist Jarmo Saari and the string quartet from Britten Sinfonia. REDDRESS audiences will experience the most original and creative performances with each evening act accompanied by one of the most dynamic chamber orchestras in Europe whose recent collaborations include Nitin Sawhney, Joanna MacGregor and the Michael Clark Company. The evening concerts are ticketed and available to book at www.reddress.fi.

“We are very excited to bring all this redness to London Design Festival and to the beautiful York Hall. London has such an aura that if we make something great it will enjoy it. London and the Finnish Institute in London team inspired us to make REDDRESS even more red and more rich in 2011 with events, REDSHOP and special REDBOOK. I wish REDDRESS also inspires London”, Aamu Song enthuses.

REDDRESS will also host free daytime events and talks including ‘Meet the Designers’, an exclusive launch of REDBOOK, REDLOOKS workshop and a dance event for families at the neighbouring V&A Museum of Childhood.

On-site for the duration of REDDRESS will be REDSHOP, offering many exclusively designed red products, including the quirky yet functional and inspirational pieces designed by Aamu Song and Johan Olin’s COMPANY as well as limited editions by innovative guest designers such as Vuokko Nurmesniemi, Nene Tsuboi and Vík Prjónsdóttir.

Vuokko Nurmesniemi, one of the original Marimekko designers in the 1950's and famed for revolutionising printed fabrics and fashion design in Finland, has designed a special red edition of her 1960's Myllynkivi Dress and Round Bag for REDSHOP. Japanese-born, Helsinki-based Nene Tsuboi has created a red edition of her Mitsumaru wooden clogs. The Mitsumaru clog is a modern reinvention of the traditional, Finnish wooden clog produced by the family-run clog manufacturer Talla in the small village of Myrskylä in Finland for 50 years. Creative brand, Vík Prjónsdóttir, inspired by myths and stories from the past and present will present Healing Hands Icelandic woollen scarf. Additional products by COMPANY such as Winter Tie, Mushroom Stool and Suomi Shoes will be available in specially made red editions at REDSHOP during the event.

“We are extremely pleased to be working with Aamu Song and Johan Olin's COMPANY, one of Finland's top creative duos. They are a truly imaginative pair who effortlessly ventures from design to art, architecture and craft. REDDRESS creates an exciting and thought-provoking experience for Londoners - and continues to strengthen the links between London and Helsinki, the two world-class design cities ", says Hanna Harris, Programme Director for Arts & Culture at the Finnish Institute.

The REDDRESS event is part of the international programme of World Design Capital Helsinki 2012. REDDRESS
is part of the permanent collection of Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland.

REDDRESS will be open from Thursday to Saturday, 1pm to 5pm and Sunday, 11am to 4pm. Admission free. Ticketed evening performances will run Thursday to Saturday at 7pm.

REDDRESS is supported by: World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 / Kvadrat / Antalis / Artek / Town Hall Hotel & Apartments / Embassy of Finland, London / Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland /The Finnish Performing Music Promotion Centre ESEK

22-25 September 2011
York Hall, Bethnal Green,
London E2 9PJ