(mss-age) is a show concept and art direction approach created for a concert tour by British singer and journalist Anika, in support of her 2021 full-length record ‘Change’.
(the echo chamber)
The concept is driven by a situation in which information, ideas or beliefs are amplified by their transmission until they lose true essence.
y2k informatics meet
Cronemberg's ‘Videodrome’
Cronemberg's ‘Videodrome’
(mass-age) (mess-age)
Concepts created by analyst Marshall McLuhan in his book ‘The Medium is the Massage’. It is a pun of two binomials and the word «message». The audience is intended to feel confused and interpret the meaning of the naming.
(stage design)
The aim of the show is to make a reverse journey to the Echo Chamber: getting away from the reverberation to find the original source, in this case, Anika. To do this, the space is divided into two rooms.
Throughout the show, Anika will be the main source of the performance, while the audience will play the role of receivers.
Phase One of the stage during the opening performance "Sand Witches", watched through the screens.
As the concert is designed to take place indoors, there would be a no-recording-device policy, so that concert goers will not be able spread information regarding the show unless word of mouth, thus creating a pattern of distortion.
Phase Two of the stage: the Echo Chamber
(venue selection & strategy)
To offer a more immersive and hermetic experience, large, industrial warehouses must be contemplated, with a minimum capacity of 1,000 people, such as:
(merch & memorabilia)
(blue 255 regular-fit tee)
(@marshall.mcLuhan regular-fit tee)
(tour shirt) (souvenir box)
(live album)
(creative & art direction guidebook)
Anika's photos, stills and excerpts from her music videos are property of the artist herself, Sacred Bones Records and Invada Records. No intentions of Copyright infringement. No commercial purposes derived from this project are pursued by its authors.
Master in Design & Art Direction
(ELISAVA, Barcelona).
(ELISAVA, Barcelona).
(concept) (creative & art direction) Alba Carbonell / Babel Zapata / Julian Pineda / Laura Agulló
(stage design) Alba Carbonell (styling research) Babel Zapata
(graphic design) Julian Pineda / Babel Zapata (backdrop visuals) Laura Agulló
(teaser video editing) Julian Pineda
(stage design) Alba Carbonell (styling research) Babel Zapata
(graphic design) Julian Pineda / Babel Zapata (backdrop visuals) Laura Agulló
(teaser video editing) Julian Pineda
