Restraint is a dynamic and immersive exhibition enviroment inspired by the conceptual framework of Matthew Barneys ‘Drawing Restraint’ and extending into his renowned film ‘The River of Fundament’. The space exists as both a public gallery and an active studio/ workshop, blurring the lines between creation and display.

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The interior design and spatial atmosphere centres ideas of tension, transformation, and ritual, which are all key themes across Barneys work. Visitors move through a sequence of spaces including the preassure sensing waterbridge room and the upstairs projection room. When a person steps onto the water submerged sensored flooring (located on the first floor), their weight will trigger 3 taps, spread across the second floor, to slowly release fresh water. This will cause the mud state of the projection room to change and become more liquidated. However, if only few visitors interact with this feature the mud will remain in a dry and hardened state. This tension between material form that is activated by peoples bodies allows for a completely transformative space, highlighting the concept of transformation being created through release and restraint.

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"Form can not materialize unless it struggles against restraint”- Matthew Barney.