PRESS RELEASE
21 November 2017
Marshmallow Laser Feast Unleashes ‘A Colossal Wave!’ on Hull UK City of Culture 2017
Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF) – the creative studio that explores human perception through bleeding edge tech – is set to unleash its latest virtual reality (VR) art installation, A Colossal Wave!, on Hull UK City of Culture 2017, from 1 to 10 December.
Commissioned by the British Council in collaboration with pioneering Canadian artists (Presstube, Dpt. and Headspace), the MLF-spearheaded installation is an artistic extravaganza that combines the latest innovations in interactive and interconnected VR with computer graphic ‘voice fruit’ artworks generated by the public, Newton’s theories of cause and effect, a giant sculpture and a thought-provoking message about marine pollution.
The installation offers a shared experience for visitors split over two locations: one outdoor, one indoor. The outdoor activity, situated on the Hull Marina, lets people toss a bowling ball from a great height to fulfill mischievous childhood urges whilst symbolising Newton’s theories of action and reaction.
As the ball smashes into a gong on the ground, a virtual tsunami is experienced by four VR headset-wearing people who seek shelter under large metal umbrellas at ground level. The multisensory experience is heightened through a backpack that creates body vibrations and specialised audio.
To provoke thinking, conversation and action about humans’ impact on the planet, the virtual wave is filled with abstract computer graphic ‘voice fruit’ creatures that symbolise the billions of manmade waste particles polluting our seas.
Each voice fruit is generated by the connected indoor VR installation that can be found next door to Hull’s Centre for Digital Innovation, C4DI. Here, members of the public use their voices to generate the peculiar creatures that rain down like meteors in the outdoor VR experience.
Users in the indoor space wear VR headsets so that they can see their voice fruits being created in real-time. The shapes and sizes of the fruits vary according to voice and sound fluctuations, meaning each time one is created, they are unique to the visitor.
The real-time connectivity between the indoor and outdoor experiences helps put Hull on the map by embracing the very latest advancements in VR.
Robin McNicholas, MLF’s Creative Director, says: “Using the latest advancements in VR, A Colossal Wave! gives people an opportunity to experience unforgettable Alice in Wonderland style moments of wonder. Stimulating the public’s imagination and driving conversation around environmental issues, we hope that A Colossal Wave! will inspire the people of Hull as much as it has inspired us.”
A Colossal Wave!is co-commissioned by the British Council, Hull UK City of Culture 2017 and Partenariat du Quartier des spectacles to celebrate the creative partnership between Hull and Montreal.It forms part of Substance, a celebration and exploration of the culture, creativity and future of the North featuring music, art, installations and provocations.
Martin Green, Director of Hull 2017, said: “In keeping with our fourth season, Tell the World, which reflects on Hull’s commitment to new technology and experimental work, A Colossal Wave! celebrates the creativity, innovation and vitality of the city. As well as complementing the city’s contribution to the digital age, the interactive digital sculpture encourages visitors to experience the city in a different light.”
A Colossal Wave!will open 12pm-10pm weekdays and 10am-10pm on weekends. For more information, visit www.hull2017.co.uk/colossalwave
- Ends -
Notes to editors
Links:
instagram.com/marshmallowlaserfeast
#acolossalwave
@marshmallowlf
Credits:
Concept: Marshmallow Laser Feast
Created by: Presstube, Dpt., Marshmallow Laser Feast
3D Audio Sound Design: Headspace Studio
With thanks to:
Commissioned by the British Council, in partnership with Hull City of Culture and Canada’s Quartier des Spectacle with additional support from GREAT, the Canada High Commission, Centre Phi, Show Canada, Montreal & the BFI’s Vision Awards.
About Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF): Marshmallow Laser Feast is a London-based experiential studio working at the intersection of technology, art and science. Always looking to create experiences that immerse and amaze in unexpected ways, MLF employs a wealth of creative disciplines – from photo-real virtual reality to robotic performance and realtime mapping – to push boundaries, redefine expectations and excite audiences worldwide.
About the British Council: the British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 65 million people directly and 731 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. britishcouncil.org
About Hull UK City of Culture: Hull UK City of Culture 2017 is a 365 day programme of cultural events and creativity inspired by the city and told to the world. Hull secured the title of UK City of Culture 2017 in November 2013. It is only the second city to hold the title and the first in England.
The Culture Company was set up to deliver the Hull 2017 programme and is an independent organisation with charitable status. It has raised £32 million, with over 70 partners supporting the project, including public bodies, trusts and foundations and local and national businesses.
Key contributions are coming from: Host City – Hull City Council; Principal Partners - Arts Council England, BBC, Big Lottery Fund, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Heritage Lottery Fund, KCOM, KWL, Spirit of 2012, Yorkshire Water and the University of Hull; Major Partners –Associated British Ports, Arco, BP, the British Council, British Film Institute, Green Port Hull, Hull Clinical Commissioning Group, MKM Building Supplies, P&O Ferries, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Sewell Group, Siemens, Smith & Nephew and Wykeland Group. The National Lottery has contributed more than £10m of this funding, making it the largest single funding body for Hull 2017.
Hull 2017’s International Partners are: Aarhus, Denmark, which is European Capital of Culture 2017; Reykjavik, Iceland; Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and Freetown, Sierra Leone (twinned with Hull). These relationships are reflected in a number of events throughout the year.
For information go to www.hull2017.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @2017Hull Instagram @2017hull Facebook HullCityofCulture
About Substance: Jason Bruges Studio's commission Where Do We Go From Here? kicks off more than 10 days of music, art installations, performance and provocations taking place at the start of December, under the title Substance, which celebrate this City of Culture year and the culture, creativity and the future of the North.
Substance also includes commissions from Marshmallow Laser Feast and Heinrich and Palmer; a major music event, Substance: Future of the North, featuring some of the UK's most exciting and pioneering musicians, including Jane Weaver, Nadine Shah, Hannah Peel and Lone Taxidermist; a brand new play from artist and cultural agitator Bill Drummond, who shares a double-bill with Pub Corner Poets; a specially curated film festival in association with Aesthetica Magazine; an and evening featuring writer, actor and comedian Reece Shearsmith.
A key event, Substance Future Forum, takes place on Thursday 7 December bringing together artists, creative industry figures, policymakers, business leaders, digital pioneers, commentators and future change-makers to debate the role that culture and creativity will play in the continuing transformation of the North, and how they are uniquely placed to respond to a range of issues from Brexit, to social cohesion, to health and well-being.
Substance follows in the footsteps of WOW – Women of the World, Neu Reekie's Where Are We Now? and the Freedom Talks, to get artists, thinkers, commentators and the general public talking and thinking about key issues of the day. www.hull2017.co.uk/substance