The Connector 2004 is a modern abstraction of the Norwegian play “PEER GYNT” by Henrik Ibsen from 1875, about travelling in yourself and in the world. MMW architects of Norway has designed and the developed the overall concept. Helly Hansen has produced the structure. The soundscape is composed by Lars Petter Hagen.

The connector is thought of as a looping travel trough time and space. It’s a journey and a spiritual experience with light, sound and space as modelling elements.
Our focus has been to connect the two halls in a new and so far not ever experienced way. Every visitor and exhibitor is given a piece of new pre-made architecture.

The connector is divided into three conceptual places taken from the play:

ACT FIRST
SCENE THIRD [The farm-place at Hegstad. In the background, the dwelling-house. A THRONG OF GUESTS. A lively dance in progress on the green. THE FIDDLER sits on a table. THE MASTER-COOK is standing in the doorway. COOKMAIDS are going to and fro between the different buildings. Groups of ELDERLY PEOPLE sit here and there, talking.]

ACT SECOND
SCENE SIXTH [The Royal Hall of the King of the Dovre-Trolls. A great assembly of TROLL-COURTIERS, GNOMES, and BROWNIES. THE OLD MAN OF THE DOVRE sits on the throne, crowned, and with his sceptre in his hand. His CHILDREN and NEAREST RELATIONS are ranged on both sides. PEER GYNT stands before him. Violent commotion in the hall.]

ACT FOURTH
SCENE SIXTH [The tent of an Arab chief, standing alone on an oasis.] [PEER GYNT, in his Eastern dress, resting on cushions. He is drinking coffee, and smoking a long pipe. ANITRA, and a bevy of GIRLS, dancing and singing before him.]

Each of the three pieces has a sound- and lighting theme inspired from this.

Technically the structure is based on pneumatics – the air pressure in the orange fabric “pipes” keep the structure standing. The white canvas in between the “pipes” becomes the walls.
The air is supplied by one noiseless fan placed outside the structure.
The structure itself is divided into three pieces.
All of these will be inflated and tested in Norway before we pack them down into separate bags and bring them as our personal luggage on the plane to New York.
When in New York we start rigging by attaching the pieces to each other with plastic hoses and to the fan. Then turn it on.

The canvas we’ve decided to use is a fireproof (of course) airproof fabric provided by Helly Hansen’s Special Products Department, which also produce (means weld and sew) the whole structure.
This is the same canvas as used in their Offshore Survival Suits.