Creative studio Flying Object are set to overwhelm visitors to Tate Britain with their winning IK Prize 2015 project, Tate Sensorium, which opens to the public on 26 August.
Involving the alluring arts of numerous collaborators including a master chocolatier and a scent expert, innovative technology will invite visitors to experience four paintings from the Tate collection in new and unexpected ways.
The immersive display will centre on works by Francis Bacon, David Bomberg (pictured), Richard Hamilton and John Latham, exploring the impact taste, touch, smell and sound can have on the artistic encounter.
The Flying Object team have collaborated with a number of specialists to devise a range of experiential triggers using a perfume release system, touchless haptics technology and 3D sound. Collaborators include audio specialist Nick Ryan, master chocolatier Paul A Young, scent expert Odette Toilette, interactive theatre maker Annette Mees, and the Sussex Computer Human Interaction Lab team led by Dr Marianna Obrist at the Department of Informatics, University of Sussex.
In addition, members of the audience can choose to become their own object of study and record their emotional responses to the artworks by wearing a biometric measuring device that monitors electrodermal activity, receiving a tailored summary at the end of their visit. This wristband uses perspiration to estimate the level of calm or excitement exhibited by the wearer.
Celebrating innovation
The IK Prize, now in its second year, is named in memory of philanthropist Irene Kreitman and supported by the Porter Foundation with the aim of celebrating talent and innovation in the digital industry. The inaugural prize in 2014 was won by digital production company The Workers.
Flying Object, who were selected from a shortlist of four proposals earlier this year, said: “Developing Tate Sensorium over the past six months has been a fascinating creative challenge. Our goal is to create an experience that provokes, rather than presents, interpretation of the art; we want visitors to enjoy the experience but more importantly to connect with the art in personal, memorable ways.
“We’ve been fortunate to work with really talented people on developing the sensory stimuli, and we’re excited to bring cutting edge technology into the gallery space to help bring the experience to life.”
Tate Sensorium runs from 26 August to 20 September 2015 in gallery 34, Tate Britain. Each experience lasts 15 minutes. Tickets are free but booking is required on a first-come first-served basis on the day of the visit.
More on a-n.co.uk:
Digital R&D Fund for the Arts – A series of five articles by Chris Sharratt looking at visual arts projects funded by the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts, including work by Abandon Normal Devices, disabled artist Sue Austin, and Metal (Southend-on-Sea).
