JUXTA-SCAPE: A New Perception of Campus Public Realm

JUXTA-SCAPE is located in the East Middle Hall courtyard of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Minhang Campus. Different from conventional college campus sculptures, the design juxtaposes a series of aspects of the courtyard, campus scenery, interactivity, and mirror images, with the result being a striking formation “SJTU” that represents the university. JUXTA-SCAPE is a key node of the campus that stimulates interaction between passers-by and courtyard space, and enriches the narrative of daily college life.

Because of the multiple viewing angles in the courtyard, the design team took 150x150x150mm as a module to build a 7.5x2.4x1.2m prototype frame. Then, the frame was divided into four sections: solidness, hollowness, mirror images, and campus scenery, which symbolize the Juxta-scape’s form, the viewing frame, and both dynamic reflection and static moment of college life, respectively. JUXTA-SCAPE represents a multi-faceted redefinition of campus public space by creating different interactions through viewing, movement, and stillness.

As conventional representations of campus culture, most sculptures on college campuses in China are of important school figures, symbols, or mottos. This leads to a one-sided and formalistic communication style, and the installations are mostly disconnected from the space of the campus. JUXTA-SCAPE explores an innovative approach of campus art by meaningfully juxtaposing different scenes in abstract and integrating human interaction into the piece itself. The installation becomes an extension of campus space, allowing the public to refresh the perception of campus space and culture.