It’s all about the ‘pivot’ these days and Drop Everything are one of those spearheading it in exciting directions. The biannual way, way, out west festival on Inis Oírr firstly spun out Studio Drop with collections such as ‘Dreamtime’. Now they’re representing at the London Design Biennale with An Leabharlann, a library collection and piece of micro-architecture situated on the seafront of Inis Oírr, the smallest of the Aran Islands.
Originally planned for Drop Everything 2018, it was due to be rebuilt onsite at Somerset House, but had to pivot into an online experience with a computer generated model of the site and AI assisted image search tool allows visitors to explore this unique construction and collection.
The structure is formed from modular rectangular prisms stacked at offset angles. Designer Harrison Gardner was inspired by the traditional building techniques on the island, including Inis Oírr’s characteristic dry-stacked stone walls, dividing the island into hundreds of grazing and growing fields.
Not thwarted by that experience, Gardner went on to build Studio Drop from designs by Jordan Ralph as part of the ill-fated Galway 2020. That has literally dropped on the island, all under the watchful eye of Miss Drop herself, Mary Nally.
London Design Biennale, curated by Es Devlin, runs until June 27.
