Watch Universal Everything's audio-visual installation unfold in the Science Museum's new Media Space galleries
It can be difficult to describe digital artworks, because they often need to be seen to be understood. But Matt Pyke hopes that when people do see the newest, extraordinary installation by his design collective, Universal Everything, they will feel 'the sensation of witnessing a new form of life, never felt before'. And the brilliant thing is, they probably will. Even if that's hard to imagine right now.
The huge, two-part audio-visual installation is the first exhibit to be shown in the Science Museum's new Media Space galleries, which opened to the public this month. Designed to bring together photographers, artists and curators to explore the relationship between photography, science, art and technology, the Media Space is a collaboration between the Science Museum and the National Media Museum in Bradford.
Within the newly opened space, Universal Everything has created a curved chamber comprising two concentric 360º video projection walls immersing the visitor. Running on the outside of the chamber, 'Presence' is a 24-minute, four-screen film of a contemporary dance performance, clothed in Universal Everything's customary abstract digital costumes and choreographed by Benjamin Millepied and his LA Dance Project (soon to be on at Sadler's Wells Theatre). The inner screen shows '1000 Hands', a living, evolving digital environment, consisting of visitor-generated drawings made through a touch screen app.
Since we covered his exhibition at Paris' Gâité Lyrique two years ago, Pyke has been busy working on installations and experiences for Intel, Nike and Hyundai (who are also partnering for the Media Space show). For this exhibition the plan was to bring it all together. 'We wanted to create a grand cumulative mix of the processes we have been exploring; architecture, sound, choreography, CGI and touch screen interaction,' he explains. 'The essence of the work is about revealing a living, emotional presence within digital forms, leading us to develop abstracted, digital costumes for the dancers of "Presence"'.
Continues Pyke: 'With "1000 Hands", we wanted to involve the visitors in the creation of the work, to challenge the traditional role of audience versus artists. The work only exists because of the audience contributions.' The installation is the studio's biggest collaboration yet, involving architects, fabricators, projectionists, musicians, dancers, choreographers, CGI animators and programmers.
Within the newly opened space, Universal Everything has created a curved chamber comprising two concentric 360º video projection walls immersing the visitor.for Media Space
A still from 'Presence', a 24-minute, four-screen film of a contemporary dance performance, which runs on the outside of the chamber.
The performers - choreographed by Benjamin Millepied - appear clothed in Universal Everything's signature abstract digital costumes.
Universal Everything founder Matt Pyke explains, ''We wanted to create a grand cumulative mix of the processes we have been exploring; architecture, sound, choreography, CGI and touch screen interaction. The essence of the work is about revealing a living, emotional presence within digital forms.'
The installation is the studio's biggest collaboration yet, involving architects, fabricators, projectionists, musicians, dancers, choreographers, CGI animators and programmers.
ADDRESS
Virgin Media Studio
Media Space
Exhibition Rd
London SW7 2DD
-
New tech dedicated to home health, personal wellness and mapping your metricsWe round up the latest offerings in the smart health scene, from trackers for every conceivable metric from sugar to sleep, through to therapeutic furniture and ultra intelligent toothbrushes
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the week'Tis the season for eating and drinking, and the Wallpaper* team embraced it wholeheartedly this week. Elsewhere: the best spot in Milan for clothing repairs and outdoor swimming in December
-
How Stephen Burks Man Made is bringing the story of a centuries-old African textile to an entirely new audienceAfter researching the time-honoured craft of Kuba cloth, designers Stephen Burks and Malika Leiper have teamed up with Italian company Alpi on a dynamic new product
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the week
'Tis the season for eating and drinking, and the Wallpaper* team embraced it wholeheartedly this week. Elsewhere: the best spot in Milan for clothing repairs and outdoor swimming in December
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekFar from slowing down for the festive season, the Wallpaper* team is in full swing, hopping from events to openings this week. Sometimes work can feel like play – and we also had time for some festive cocktails and cinematic releases
-
The Barbican is undergoing a huge revamp. Here’s what we knowThe Barbican Centre is set to close in June 2028 for a year as part of a huge restoration plan to future-proof the brutalist Grade II-listed site
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekIt’s wet, windy and wintry and, this week, the Wallpaper* team craved moments of escape. We found it in memories of the Mediterranean, flavours of Mexico, and immersions in the worlds of music and art
-
Each mundane object tells a story at Pace’s tribute to the everydayIn a group exhibition, ‘Monument to the Unimportant’, artists give the seemingly insignificant – from discarded clothes to weeds in cracks – a longer look
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekThis week, the Wallpaper* team had its finger on the pulse of architecture, interiors and fashion – while also scooping the latest on the Radiohead reunion and London’s buzziest pizza
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekIt’s been a week of escapism: daydreams of Ghana sparked by lively local projects, glimpses of Tokyo on nostalgic film rolls, and a charming foray into the heart of Christmas as the festive season kicks off in earnest
-
Wes Anderson at the Design Museum celebrates an obsessive attention to detail‘Wes Anderson: The Archives’ pays tribute to the American film director’s career – expect props and puppets aplenty in this comprehensive London retrospective
