Lightscapes

In a confusing couple of weeks for the DW blog, we’ve looked at a minibar for the mind; a mind (almost) literally full of silver; the ‘virtually real’ and the shape of language.

Adding to this sensory miasma of perplexity, oxymoron and general mid-bending word play is the Scapes exhibition, which opens this week at London’s Tenderpixel Gallery.

The show creates landscapes and headspaces not from images, but from sound and light. The result is a Space Mountain-esque environs that promises to ‘explore the creative and immersive possibilities of light-based real-time visualisation in physical space.’

The Scapes installation has been created by the Squidsoup media arts collective, made up of Anthony Rowe, Gareth Bushell, Chris Bennewith, Liam Birtles and Alexander Rishaug.

Using sound, software and light, Squidsoup aim to create three-dimensional cities, landscapes and abstract architectures using their very own unique creation – the Ocean of Light 3D LED grid.  The gird uses bespoke hardware to create three-dimensional ‘light sculptures’, creating a mesmerising, interactive, fluid construction.

For Scapes, the Ocean of Light grid occupies the entire room, and the lights are controlled in real-time, meaning that the illuminated visions created are there one minute, gone the next.

Speakers within the room add to this transient quality, playing sounds that allow visitors to intercept and corrupt them, making their own sounds to add to the original audiovisual landscape.

Scapes is showing at the Tenderpixel Gallery, 10 Cecil Court, London, WC2N From 11 February – 5 March, Wednesday – Saturday 1pm-7pm