Client: University of Cambridge

Overview

At the occasion of a fundraising campaign organized by the University of Cambridge in King's College Chapel on 17th October 2015, Artichoke invited the artist Miguel Chevalier to create a series of immersive projections to accompany the speeches of renowned professors and alumni including Sir Ian McKellen, Professor Chistopher Dobson, Professor Carol Brayne and Sir David Attenborough, and concluded by an unannounced appearance by the world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking, known for his work on black holes.

Goals

This was the first time that the University of Cambridge had invited an artist to make a work of art in the Chapel. Miguel Chevalier imagines a number of different graphic universes, which are generated in real time and use their own “digital” language to illustrate and interpret a wide variety of subjects including Academic Excellence, Health, Biology, Neurosciences, Physics, Biotechnologies…
We discover colourful living universe constantly renewed.
To illustrate Stephen Hawking's research about black holes, Miguel Chevalier imagines an immersive environment made up of thousands of constellations that plunge the guests into the mystery of the universe. In the same spirit, each of the projections entices the audience into a magical and poetic atmosphere where science meets spirituality.
The site-specific installation highlights the architecture of the 16th century Chapel through light and highlights the high technicality of the cathedral's fan vaults. The soft light and the wealth of colours from the digital installation is in resonance also with the light from the stained glass windows. The installation gives the building life before our eyes, creating an unprecedented visual experience.
This digital installation is a celebration of the open-mindedness and the highness of research of Cambridge University.

Process

Artichoke (UK) is a creative company that works with artists to invade their public, to create extraordinary, large-scale events that appeal to the widest possible audience.
Artichoke worked with Miguel Chevalier on an installation on Durham Cathedral ceiling for Lumiere festival.
When Artichoke got a commission from Cambridge University to provide some Artistic Ideas at the occasion of the fundraising campaign in King's College Chapel, they asked Miguel Chevalier to imagine a project in the chapel. Miguel propose to create an immersive experience by projections on the ceiling and the walls.
The London based company Qed provided 4 x 20k Lumens projectors. Miguel Chevalier worked with Nicolas Gaudelet form the french compagny Voxels Productions (company which helps artists to follow their dreams with its technical expertise), to make it possible. Voxels Production provide the computers which include Miguel Chevalier own software made by Cyrille Herny and Antoine Villeret. It was close to living performance. Voxels Productions synchronized with a whole team in a timed manner.

Additional Information

CREDIT : Dear World… Yours, Cambridge - Miguel Chevalier Immersive projection by Miguel Chevalier King's College Chapel, Cambridge, 17th October 2015 Curators: Helen Marriage and Bill Gee / Artichoke Trust Campaign: Johnson Banks Commissioned by the University of Cambridge Development and Alumni Relations for the launch of the campaign for the University and Colleges of Cambridge Technical productions : Voxels Productions Software : Cyrille Henry and Antoine Villeret