Synchronicity: young people’s workshop and interactive gallery installation

“Synchronicity” is an interactive installation which reveals a journey through imaginary cities. Developed with the artist Michele Panegrossi and 16 – 24 year olds taking part in V&A Samsung Digital Classroom, the installation was displayed in February in the V&A Sackler Centre. Over two days participants learnt about projection mapping, stop frame animation and sensors before building their own interactive work for display.

Installing the table in the V&A Sackler Centre
Installing the table in the V&A Sackler Centre

The work was installed in the Sackler Centre for Arts Education for 9 days and was enjoyed by 1,200 visitors of all ages. Based on the 1972 novel “Invisible Cities” by Italo Calvino, the table encourages you to explore, communicate with others and experiment with the interactions. In Invisible Cities, Marco Polo meets Kublai Khan and despite not sharing a common language, Polo describes 55 fantastical cities. These cities become ruminations on life, death and knowledge, their poetic framing taking them from travelogue to meditations.

V&A Digital Samsung Interactive Table Digital Projection Mapping Visitors use V&A Digital Samsung Interactive Table Digital Projection Mapping Visitors use V&A Digital Samsung Interactive Table Digital Projection Mapping Visitors use

The young people involved came from a variety of interests in digital arts but all were keen to try their hand at projection mapping. For the workshop we used the free trial version of MadMapper which retains all its features but places a watermark over the output. Participants worked in groups throughout to develop their ideas and concepts. Working as one group initially they set out their vision for the city and landscapes they wanted to visualise. In smaller groups the idea was developed further and tasks were delegated with pairs taking on animation, interaction and projection mapping.

interactive installation