How SFXC Created a Colour-Changing Floor at Tate Modern

Here at SFXC, we are continually amazed by the far-reaching and innovative applications for our colour-changing products. In 2018, we were approached by Tate Modern to tackle a very ambitious project. The team were excited to learn we'd be collaborating with world-renowned Cuban installation and performance artist Tania Bruguera. For several months, we immersed ourselves in the exciting world of modern art!

The challenge was our biggest yet: to produce a colour-changing floor for Tate Modern's gargantuan Turbine Hall – all 3,200 square metres of it, over 34,000 square feet (gulp!). This was going to take enormous volumes of product, many, many hours of research and precise military planning. Firstly, we had to consider that over 6 months, the installation would be seen by an estimated 1 million visitors, according to Tate, who would pass through this world-class gallery… well, also sitting on it, lying on it, touching it, scuffing it, rolling around on it…!

So this floor had to be tough and hard-wearing in the extreme. Not only did we have to think about long-term durability, but also how the change in temperature from autumn into winter would affect the flooring. From the atmospheric temperatures within the cathedral-like void of the Turbine Hall itself, to the cold concrete of its floor… our work had only just begun.

We travelled regularly to London for research, development and implementation meetings with the wonderful team at Tate Modern and with Tania Bruguera, whose brainchild this was. Together, we explored several colour-changing ideas before deciding on thermochromic, which reacts at a "touch temperature".

Back at SFXC headquarters on the sleepy East Sussex coast, we began testing, test upon test, late nights and early mornings, until finally we produced a perfect thermochromic colour-changing ink with a mid-range activation temperature. When heated to body temperature, the ink clears to show what lies underneath it. Tania's idea was to "reveal" one large image, which was to be achieved by people working together as a group, using the heat from their bodies.

The floor itself was made from hard-wearing interlocking squares, the kind used in aircraft hangars and industrial spaces. We told you – hard-wearing to the extreme…

Next, we had to find a way to print on those tiles. At first we thought of screen printing, but luckily we sourced a large-format printer who was able to apply an image onto the tiles themselves. It was all coming together nicely!

Over the printed image we then applied thermochromic ink. In this case, we chose our Thermochromic Sprayable System (available in 8 colours!) for its super-tough properties. We had lots of fun tutoring Tate Modern's technical team in applying the specialist coating. Once it was all covered, the whole floor was coated with a heavy-duty resin top coat to protect it from the months of heavy traffic ahead. Now all we had to do was sit back and enjoy the show!

Planning an installation or a project of your own? Discuss your project with us, or explore our thermochromic materials.