Slap bang in the middle of London’s financial district isn’t the first place you’d head to if you wanted a moment of peace and quiet. Until now, that is. A unique pop-up experience is headed to the city, providing a well-needed wellness boost to anybody struggling with a case of the January blues.
Produced by Creative Giantsthe project is in support of mental health charity, CALMand will be amplifying the charity’s vital work throughout the space. The project has been designed to provide its visitors with a pocket of peacefulness in the heart of our rather chaotic capital, helping them navigate the challenges that January often brings.
The Observatory will feature two innovative audio-visual experiences that have been created to encourage Londoners to explore their emotions and experience some meaningful moments of introspection. The two experiences seamlessly blend art and technologyreimaging art outside of a conventional gallery environment.
Harmony 2.0
Born from artist Ela Brunel Hawes’ fascination with states of mind, Harmony 2.0 is a real-time interactive art concept created by We Are Midnight. It involves a group of six people gathering around a fluid well and being taken through a voyage of discovery. Using EEG headsets, the brainwaves of the participants are interpreted and their collective thoughts will shape a visual piece of art on the well’s surface. Harmony 2.0 aims to connect people through the power of mindfulness, and the experience ends with a group meditation.
Soul Paint
This groundbreaking VR experience invites participants to embark on a journey of self-discovery, exploring their emotions through the use of body mapping, 3D drawing, and movement. Through the use of innovative VR storytelling, Soul Paint will provide a transformative experience for audiences to explore the intricacies of human emotion. The experience has been co-created with patients, behavioural psychologists, neuroscientists and researchers, and this will be the first time that the project will be available to the public outside of a festival setting.
Ben KearnsDesign Director at Creative Giantssays “The Observatory is proud to present Harmony 2.0 and Soul Paint at Old Broad Street in support of CALM and with many thanks to the Eastern City. It’s about stepping into a new space for interactive art where each of us becomes an active participant, not just a spectator. With Harmony 2.0 and Soul Paint, we’re inviting people to shape, respond, and connect with the work – and with each other – on a deeply personal level. At a time when we’re all searching for a bit more light, these experiences remind us that we share a common thread of understanding, creativity, and hope.
The Observatory will open at 56 Old Broad Street between January 6 and January 31. The experiences are free to visit but donations to CALM are encouraged. Plan your visit and snap up one of the available slots here.
