Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen
Donate
Podcasts The Frame
Experience the Rain Room at LACMA, pumping up to 317 gallons a minute
solid pale red banner
()
The Frame Tile
Oct 28, 2015
Listen • 4:54
Experience the Rain Room at LACMA, pumping up to 317 gallons a minute
The Rain Room opens this Sunday at LACMA. See what it's like to walk through an indoor rainstorm in KPCC's video and photos.
The Rain Room opens to the public at LACMA on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. The installation is the creation of London-based artists' studio Random International.
The Rain Room opens to the public at LACMA on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. The installation is the creation of London-based artists' studio Random International.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
A security guard walks a press preview attendee through the Rain Room at LACMA on Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 2015. The installation is located on the first floor of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum building.
A security guard walks a press preview attendee through the Rain Room at LACMA on Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 2015. The installation is located on the first floor of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum building.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Press preview attendees walk through the Rain Room at LACMA on Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 2015. The installation uses about 528 gallons of water within a self-contained system. The same 528 gallons will be recycled throughout the entire run of the exhibition.
Press preview attendees walk through the Rain Room at LACMA on Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 2015. The installation uses about 528 gallons of water within a self-contained system. The same 528 gallons will be recycled throughout the entire run of the exhibition.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Each visit in the Rain Room at LACMA lasts about 10–15 minutes. Five to seven people will be allowed to walk through the rain at a time.
Each visit in the Rain Room at LACMA lasts about 10–15 minutes. Five to seven people will be allowed to walk through the rain at a time.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Press preview attendees walk through the Rain Room at LACMA on Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 2015. LACMA’s water main supplies water to the Rain Room.
Press preview attendees walk through the Rain Room at LACMA on Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 2015. LACMA’s water main supplies water to the Rain Room.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
When all the ceiling tiles are switched on, water is constantly pumped at a rate of 317 gallons each minute inside the Rain Room at LACMA.
When all the ceiling tiles are switched on, water is constantly pumped at a rate of 317 gallons each minute inside the Rain Room at LACMA.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
The Frame's Darby Maloney records sound of the Rain Room at LACMA during the press preview on Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 2015.
The Frame's Darby Maloney records sound of the Rain Room at LACMA during the press preview on Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 2015.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

The Rain Room opens this Sunday at LACMA. See what it's like to walk through an indoor rainstorm in KPCC's video and photos.

Beginning November 1st, you can experience a rainstorm inside LACMA.

There’s something odd and poetic about an art installation made of rain coming to a place parched by drought. The fact that the Los Angeles County Museum of Art has brought this piece to L.A. amplifies the idea that rain is a rare artifact from another era-- only to be encountered in a museum.  

The Rain Room is an interactive installation with continuously falling water that pauses wherever a human body is detected. So as you walk slowly through it you will be completely surrounded by raindrops but you will not get wet.

instagram.com/p/9ZlMHEMoZ0/

It's the creation of Random International, an artists' studio based in London. The Frame spoke with founders Hannes Koch and Florian Ortkrass during Wednesday's press preview.

Water-conscious Southern Californians are probably wondering, how much water does this use?

The Rain Room uses about 528 gallons of water within a self-contained system. The same 528 gallons will be recycled throughout the entire run of the exhibition.

It's an installation that can give Southern Californians an idea of what it will be like to walk through the rainstorms expected this winter if the El Niño comes.

When all the ceiling tiles are turned on, water is constantly pumped at a rate of 317 gallons each minute.

Hannes Koch, left, and Florian Ortkrass are the founders of London-based artists' studio Random International – the studio behind the Rain Room, which opens to the public at LACMA on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (Maya Sugarman/KPCC)