Looking for something a little shiny, slidey and exciting to brighten a rainy afternoon? The Test Site at the Tate gallery exhibition is a full-on adventure playground, says Mel Rogerson
Fun and laughs aren't something you would normally associate with installation art, but Test Site, the current Unilever project at the Tate Modern by Carsten Holler is a lot more exciting than most art exhibits you're likely to encounter in 2007. In fact, the whole project is more akin to an adventure playground than a stuffy gallery so even if cultural pursuits aren't your cup of tea, you might want to pop in if you're planning a walk along Bankside. The concept is simple. The artist has erected five different slides of varying heights and shapes within the colossal Turbine Hall -– all of which (bar number four - now closed) can be accessed from different floors with the gallery. Visitors can book in a time to experience the descent for themselves or they can simply watch people being propelled at speed onto the mats below. Either way, as soon as you're participating, you're already part of the art itself – in the words of the artist, "A slide is a sculpture that you can travel inside”. You can have a go on the smallest slide at any time on the day, but you have to book ahead (free) in the ticket hall for the others and it’s definitely worth mustering up that extra bit of courage to take the plunge on one of the steeper descents. The Level 5 slide is 58 metres long and full of angles and drops. It’s a nail-biting prospect, but if you are brave enough to tackle it then you will be rewarded with a totally unique sensation. Holler sums it up in a phrase by the French writer Roger Caillois as a "voluptuous panic upon an otherwise lucid mind”. Don't think that this is only for kids or art students either. Miuccia Prada is a massive fan of Mr Holler and already has one of his slides installed in her Milan headquarters (it transports her from her office to her car park) – suggesting the artist’s vision of building much bigger transportation slides in cities could become reality in the near future. In the meantime, you can get your playground fix at the Tate until 15th April.
Exhibition times Sunday to Thursday, 10.00–18.00. Friday and Saturday, 10.00–22.00. Last admission into exhibitions 17.15 (Fri and Sat 21.15). Tickets for time slots from 10.00–13.30 will be released at 10.00 Tickets for time slots from 14.00–17.30 will be released at 14.00 Tickets for time slots from 18.00–21.30 will be released at 18.00
For further info see: www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/carstenholler
