Under Scan in Northampton

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 Northampton, 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 region by Mexican-Canadian contemporary artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Under Scan brings a new interactive art experience to the town, 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 Northampton Borough Council.

 

As well as shining a spotlight on Northampton, 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, town and city centre regeneration, including the £14million redevelopment of Northampton’s Royal and Derngate Theatres (which includes funding of £2million from emda and more than £6.5million from Arts Council England).

 

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 major towns and 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 Northampton people and visitors to the town, and will provide them with an intriguing shadow-play where members of the public become actors.”

 

Councillor Phil Larratt, Northampton Borough Council cabinet member responsible for cultural development, said:  “The installation of this internationally-significant new public art work in the Market Square reflects our growing status as a location in which the arts are celebrated and can thrive. With capital investments like the major redevelopment of our prestigious theatres, Northampton will continue to provide 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 and I can think of no better public space than the Market Square to showcase this exciting work.”