Chariot

Conceived as a response to post 9.11 paranoia, this piece operates as a trade show display put on by the fictional Chariot Corporation and situated inside a gallery space. The Chariot Corporation exists as a service company supplying commercial airliners with ejection pods for their passengers seated in a class above first class. This piece simultaneously comes from an honest place of fear, and a satirical critique of class in contemporary society.

Much like the Titanic 100 years before, one cannot help but question the value of life being directly associated with wealth. At the same time it’s hard to argue with the idea that one’s own life (or the life of someone you care for) is the most valuable thing there is. If you are financially able, who wouldn’t want to escape from certain death?

A traveler would enter the pod while others are boarding the plane and stay comfortably inside it for the duration of the flight. Outer transparent doors seal the pod in it’s own chamber so if one were to eject the aircraft would not depressurize. When the terrorists take over the plane those in the economy cabin would be able to watch the chariot passengers eject to safety.

The installation consists of a 1/4 scale model of the ejection pod, wall graphics, trade show posters and a computer animated promotional video. Collectively they tout the features of the Chariot pod with a smug and yet cheeky quality.

The Chariot pod presents a wide assortment of luxury accommodations. Smartwater on tap, electrochromic privacy glass, flip down toilet, GPS tracking, inflatable life raft, martini bar and other essentials for a person of distinction and taste. Although some of its features it would be hard to describe it as anything but excessive, the pod itself is designed to be a completely viable product ready for the market.