In the realm of art and architecture, few spaces can rival the Cosmic House as a canvas for artistic expression. This unique residence, designed by Charles Jencks and retrofitted in the 1980s, serves as the backdrop for Isaac Julien's captivating installation, 'All That Changes You. Metamorphosis'. The artist's work, a visually stunning film piece, transforms the house into a living, breathing narrative, inviting viewers to explore the intricate relationship between the natural and the man-made.
What makes this installation truly remarkable is its ability to blend seamlessly with the Cosmic House's architecture. The fractured, reflected imagery, created by Julien and his long-term partner Mark Nash, amplifies the film's central theme of transformation. The use of mirrors in the semi-basement entrance space enhances the experience, reflecting and fracturing the film's imagery, much like the house itself. This effect is a deliberate play on the key theme running through Ovid's 'Metamorphoses', where mortals are cursed by gods and transformed into animals, trees, or flowers.
The film's narrative, carried by its two female protagonists, Sheila Atim and Gwendoline Christie, is a visually sumptuous journey through time and space. The allusive story, inspired by feminist science fiction and critical theory, references the works of Octavia E Butler, Ursula K Le Guin, Naomi Mitchison, and Donna Haraway. It explores humanity's fractious relationship with the natural world and hints at a post-human future, leaving viewers with a sense of wonder and contemplation.
The Cosmic House, with its Grade I-listed status as the UK's only Postmodern building, is a treasure trove of references to the sun and the cosmos. The architectural historian Jencks' retrofit is a late-late stage Mannerist masterpiece, packed with iconic details. A favorite detail is a frieze in the kitchen, where Classical triglyphs are replaced by spoons, adding a playful touch to the otherwise grand setting.
However, the film's minimal modernist interiors, filmed in the Cosmic House and other settings, could have been more spectacular. The choice of a contemporary house in the Cotswolds, rather than a Palm Springs Case Study house or Mies' Tugendhat, is a minor disappointment. Yet, this may be a matter of architectural churlishness.
Despite this, the installation creates a richly enjoyable and allusive dialogue with the rest of the house. It serves as a compelling reason to visit the Cosmic House, where the film runs until December 18th. The installation is a testament to the power of art to transform and inspire, inviting viewers to reflect on the nature of change and the human condition.
