Numen / For Use: Tape Melbourne


Photo by Fred Kroh

Numen / For Use are an art and design collective who create organic, web-like structures from adhesive tape. Their temporary installations are large and stable enough for several adults to crawl through, and the effect is not unlike being trapped in a giant spider’s web.

After climbing up a step ladder, you find yourself suspended in a series of glistening caverns, the frosted plastic obscuring your view of the outside world.


Photo by Fred Kroh.
Their latest project, Tape Melbourne, took eight days to complete, with three artists and fifteen volunteers working nine hours every day. The exhibit used thirty kilometers of tape to build, with more tape to repair and fix the structure on a nightly basis.

The Numen / For Use website contains more examples of their work, including images and videos of the construction process. You can explore their newest installation at Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia for a few more days; from now through September 24th, 2011.


Photo courtesy of Federation Square

More photos of the installation after the jump. (Editor’s note: This is our cherished intern Connie Chen’s first blog post for Coilhouse. Thank you, Connie!)


Photo by Fred Kroh.


Photo courtesy of Federation Square


Photo courtesy of Federation Square


Photo courtesy of Federation Square


Photo courtesy of Federation Square

Posted by insurreality on September 21st, 2011
Filed under Antipodes, Architecture, Art, Design, Sculpture, Surreal

2 Responses to “Numen / For Use: Tape Melbourne”

  1. selizabeth Says:
    September 21st, 2011 at 10:10 am

    Just when you think you’ve seen it all, something like this come along and knocks you on your ass. The expressions on the faces of the folks traversing those tape caves are really just all kinds of wonderful!

  2. Aria Says:
    September 29th, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    How exactly does one become an intern for Coilhouse?