Under Scan in Leicester
See what the local press had to say here:
The busiest pedestrian area in the centre of Leicester played host to the world's largest interactive video art installation when Under Scan was unveiled in Humberstone Gate West in January 2006.
Under Scan is a free, public art installation featuring 1,000 interactive video portraits of people from the East Midlands. The portraits, taken by a team of local filmmakers and including 200 people from Leicester, are projected on the ground in an area covering over 1,500 square metres. People can make the portraits "come alive" by covering them with their shadows, which are cast by a powerful projector.
Created specially for the East Midlands by Mexican-Canadian contemporary artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Under Scan brings a new interactive art experience to the city, helping to put the region on the map for hosting internationally significant visual arts work.
Under Scan has been commissioned by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) in association with other regional partners including Arts Council England, East Midlands and local authorities such as Leicester City Council.
As well as shining a spotlight on the city of Leicester, Under Scan is helping to mark the massive programme of cultural activity in the region, including major new capital developments.
A number of recent and future large-scale arts and cultural projects are playing a key role in cultural, city centre regeneration, including within the city’s Cultural Quarter. Such developments include The Peepul Centre, the LCB Depot and the new Performing Arts Centre.
Ross Willmott, emda board member with responsibility for Under Scan, said: "In recent years, more than £140 million has been invested in developing new facilities within the East Midlands’ cultural quarters, bringing major economic benefits including jobs creation, increased tourism and the wide-ranging impacts of urban regeneration of our cities. Under Scan will highlight the region’s arts and cultural offering and its vibrant cultural quarters. It demonstrates our commitment to encouraging innovative approaches to public space and, as a hi-tech installation, reflects our strengths in science and technology."
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer said: "The unveiling of Under Scan represents the culmination of almost a year’s work including intensive research, technical and artistic development behind this, my latest and most ambitious installation. I hope it will bring a new experience to Leicester people and visitors to the city, and will provide them with an intriguing shadow-play where members of the public become actors."
John Mugglestone, Cabinet Member responsible for Regeneration & Culture, Leicester City Council said: "The installation of this internationally-significant new public art work in the city centre reflects our growing status as an influential and attractive city in which the arts can thrive. With a huge programme of capital investment in the arts, Leicester is continuing to provide and host new arts experiences for local people.
"Under Scan represents a unique opportunity for local people to experience a very special video installation on their doorstep. It is fitting that Under Scan is helping celebrate cultural regeneration, as our own Cultural Quarter is being transformed with capital developments."
bbc.co.uk looks forward to Under Scan in Leicester:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2005/12/23/under_scan_feature.shtml
