Projects
Beyond the Ordinary
Beyond the Ordinary
Beyond the Ordinary explored initial ideas to create a sensory, immersive experience for people with Profound and Multiple Learning Disorders (PMLD) or sensory impairments.
Locally there is nothing like this, and for the target audience, the logistics of travelling further afield are challenging.
We completed research into immersive art exhibitions, networked and made contacts working in this field, and created a proof of concept using footage and audio created from recordings we made, and explored different sensory materials to create a 3d sensory lit sculpture to accompany the projection and audio.
Explore
£5,000
Aims of the Project
Our main aim was to research and investigate various different materials, including technical elements, to enhance the experience and integrate them, and to try out initial ideas to create a sensory experience for our target audience.
We gained further knowledge and ideas from looking into other immersive experiences, and by talking to other groups who have worked with either similar technology and materials, or with the target audience.
We wanted to engage with local residents who fit the target audience, culminating in a focus group/workshop of sorts to complete further research and figure out what works and what doesn’t work.
Seeing the interest and joy people gained from our small proof of concept was brilliant, and has made us even more motivated to develop this further and integrate further technologies, such as binaural sound, and motion sensors to activate projection and sound.
How did they do that?
Nickie learnt early on that she would need some help for the project, so worked with a fellow artist, Paul Zawadzki to record footage using a camera and audio in a forest using a Tascam audio recorder.
Paul’s wife, Ally, also joined the project as she creates sculptures made from wool, cement etc. We met up regularly in person throughout, or online to discuss progress and ideas. Ally ran with the brief to create a prototype sensory tree to accompany our footage and audio for a proof of concept.
We tested out our proof of concept at the private view for an art exhibition running the projection and audio on a loop, with the themed sensory lit sculpture nearby. We spoke to guests to obtain feedback, which has given us further ideas of how to develop this concept further using motion activated sound and made contacts with a school that has pupils with PMLD and social club for people with additional needs.
Making contacts and discussing our ideas with others has been invaluable, as it’s opened up a network of others and potential ideas of the direction we would like our explorations to head in.
Nickie also completed an introductory intensive TouchDesigner course, which gave her more understanding of its capabilities and the potential to achieve immersive, interactive projection triggered by motion sensors or MIDI controllers.
The programme enabled us to learn new technical skills to bring our ideas together, and inspired us to continue our immersive journey and develop our ideas further. We'd definitely recommend it to anyone who has an interest in creating immersive experiences.
Meet the artist
Nickie Holford
Lead artist
she/her
Nickie Holford grew up in London but has since settled in East Anglia where she currently lives and works.
She is inspired by urban landscapes and exploring the connection to nature, self and others, finding beauty in the everyday.
Artists who demonstrate a bold use of colour or the sublime portrayal of light within a piece of art continue to influence Nickie in her work, while her background in technical theatre has led to her interest in immersive arts.
Nickie is a member of Easterly Artists, the Visual Artist’s Association (VAA) and Eastern Contemporary Artists.
Ally Zawadzki
Artist
she/her
Waveney Valley artist Ally Zawadzki constructs wall art and sculptural pieces which draw upon their recognisable origins and materials inspired by organic forms seen around us and in nature, as well as conjuring up designs from the depths of her imagination.
These practice-led investigations and an experimental approach to her work occasionally involve the construction of a piece using reclaimed fabric, paper mache and cement, which is then destroyed (or ‘deconstructed’) to form the basis of further investigations resulting in the finished artwork (‘reconstruction’), using more traditional mediums.
Ally deliberately goes against established conventions of painting – sometimes using mediums that compromise each other in layers that, when distressed and manipulated, produce unexpected pleasing results.
Paul Zawadzki
Artist
Electronic musical equipment has been a lifelong passion, and he creates soundscapes using and manipulating analogue as well as digital sound parameters. He is interested in the use of technology to edit and master recordings to a high standard (using Cubase, Audacity etc).
As a visual artist and musician Paul has chromesthesia (perceiving sounds as colours and vice-versa) which features in his work. He has released CDs and vinyl records and performed live.
He is also interested in developing his work in video/audio projects – the ‘proof of concept’ video and audio experience was a work in progress stage, to be developed further.
