A new, specially commissioned high-tech augmented reality app has been launched today ahead of the much anticipated SPECTRA light festival in Aberdeen.
The interactive app uses ground-breaking technology to highlight a selection of remarkable stories showcasing Aberdeen’s history of innovators through sound and beautiful graphics.
Visitors to SPECTRA 2016, which will launch next week, can follow a trail of light boxes in Union Terrace Gardens discovering the world-changing stories of eminent physicist, James Clerk Maxwell, to the inventor of the MRI scanner Professor John Mallard.
Using augmented reality technology, that is 3D virtual video animations, and advanced image recognition software, an animated video springs to life from the user's smart phone or tablet when pointed at the images.
The app has been created by digital artists Lucy and Barney Heywood through their collaboration Stand and Stare. It is available for download from iTunes today simply by searching for Illuminators of Aberdeen.
Aberdeen City Council deputy leader councillor Marie Boulton said: “We are delighted to be using modern technology to tell the stories of Aberdeen’s impressive history and its notable figures.
“It is a fantastic way to learn about the inspiring people who have come from this region and who contributed so much to culture and science.
“Using advanced technology such as this is at the forefront of our digital aspirations for the city so it is encouraging to see it being used as part of our cultural programme.”
In celebration of Scotland’s 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, SPECTRA – Aberdeen's stunning Festival of Light – will return to the Granite City as its biggest urban light festival.
Flaming metal sculptures and cascading fiery fountains, brain activity tracking, a labyrinth of light and an illuminated 900-year-old graveyard - are just some of what else visitors to Aberdeen can expect.
From wacky experiments using granite dust, oil and water to create light and sound patterns to a digitised Icelandic choir, this year’s festival is truly interactive, inspiring and innovative.
The festival will also feature world-renowned digital artist Jen Lewin for the first time in Scotland with her ground-breaking installation, The Pool. This incorporates 40,000 LED lights and computerised pads that change colour as visitors hop, skip and jump on them.
Organised by Aberdeen City Council, SPECTRA 2016, a free event, invites audiences to engage with playful, accessible and high quality performances, spaces and works of art using light, sound and interactive experiences.
The four-day light extravaganza will start on Thursday February 11 2016, and many of the installations will reflect the theme, ‘Spark of Inspiration,’ to celebrate the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.
The annual festival began in 2014 when 17,000 people turned out to see Union Terrace Gardens and the surrounding architecture lit up in the depths of winter. Now in its third year, the event has grown from just one site to four locations, incorporating pivotal landmarks in the city centre.
Union Terrace Gardens will host just some of more than 20 installations at this year’s festival including the app trail, Illuminators of Aberdeen, The Pool and a fire garden.
The historic St Nicholas Kirk will showcase innovative installations using light and sound. The historic graveyard of the medieval church will also be transformed into a meditative light garden.
Art and culture hub, Seventeen on Belmont Street, will also host a series of hands-on Table Top Experiments with artist Antony Hall, and Marischal College will be transformed with light into a tribute to the most influential innovators of Aberdeen.
Cllr Marie Boulton said: “SPECTRA 2016 will be an exciting family event, which will bring light in the depths of winter.
“Now in its third year, the festival highlights Aberdeen as an area of light and creativity and as a city of design and technology with a strong cultural heritage. The festival also brings together the diversity of the area’s cultural offer and to encourage people to come back for more.”
Other festival highlights include:
The Pool, created by world-renowned light and interactive sculptor Jen Lewin, consists of giant concentric circles created from interactive circular pads – where play and movement create swirling effects of light and colour. Like a giant game of light ‘ping pong’, The Pool, will have visitors running and jumping, adding, bouncing and mixing light together.
American artist Jen has previously showcased the piece at major international festivals such Burning Man, the Winter Lights Festival at Canary Wharf, the Istanbul Light Festival and the iLight Marina Bar in Singapore.
SPECTRA will be the first event in Scotland to showcase The Pool – which has been sponsored by Aberdeen Inspired.
Light and interactive sculptor Jen Lewin said: “I have travelled with The Pool all over the world and I am thrilled to see how Aberdeen will engage with interactive public art at SPECTRA 2016.”
Gary Craig, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We are delighted to be supporting The Pool, which is a truly eye-catching and enchanting art installation.
“The artwork has become a global success and it is fantastic to welcome Jen Lewin to Aberdeen.”
1,000 Birds: an installation by artist Kathy Hinde with surround sound by Matthew Fairclough. Each time the installation is shown, the paper birds are re-made by people from the local community. A collection of 1,000 origami cranes, according to an ancient Japanese legend, is said to grant a wish for peace. Communities across Aberdeen are being invited to create their own origami bird which will hang in Marischal College as part of a beautiful light and sound piece.
Many Hands Make Light Work: A giant light sculpture made by 250 primary school pupils. Architectural lighting designers, Light Collective, Martin Lupton and Sharon Stammers, have undertaken workshops in schools across the city, teaching children to wire electrical light boxes and to decorate them using the colours of the rainbow.
SPECTRA 2016 is supported through Aberdeen City Council’s Cultural Development Programme, with a contribution of £200,000 as main funders of the light festival.
It is also supported by EventScotland.
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “With Scotland’s 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, we have the opportunity to put Scotland on the map in a new and exciting way, positioning the country as a mix of traditional and cutting-edge at the same time.
“SPECTRA 2016 continues to grow from strength to strength, offering both locals and visitors to the area, a wonderful opportunity to experience Aberdeen’s beautiful architecture in a new light.”
“SPECTRA is a unique event which will light up key parts of the Granite City and Aberdeen Inspired is pleased to be playing a part in that as a sponsor.”
For more information visit www.spectraberdeen.com