Leeds Art Gallery’s virtual reality experience lets viewers explore Hans Peter Kuhn’s installation “A Light and Sound Transit” from a new perspective, with a 360-degree video and archival materials available online and at the Henry Moore Institute. This initiative ensures the preservation of the artwork’s cultural impact amidst the city’s ongoing redevelopment, offering a unique way to interact with public art.
What is Leeds Art Gallery’s new virtual reality experience about?
Leeds Art Gallery offers an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience of “A Light and Sound Transit,” an installation by artist Hans Peter Kuhn. The VR showcase includes a 360-degree video, artist’s sketches, and designs, accessible online and at the Henry Moore Institute. The initiative preserves the artwork’s cultural significance amidst redevelopment.
Leeds Art Gallery and the Immersive Experience
Leeds Art Gallery, a pinnacle of cultural heritage in the city, now offers an extraordinary opportunity for art enthusiasts. “A Light and Sound Transit,” created by the acclaimed Berlin-based artist, Hans Peter Kuhn, was an installation that transformed Neville Street into a dynamic canvas of light and sound. With 3,200 LED lights and 96 distinct sound compositions, the installation greeted commuters with a new pattern each morning, much like a chain of pearls. “These discussions have uncovered otherwise hidden facets of the history of this work and will no doubt encourage new thinking about public sculpture for current and future researchers,” Errin Hussey, an archivist with Leeds Museums and Galleries, explained. The installation’s move from its temporary outdoor home has been necessitated by redevelopment, but its legacy continues in a digital format.
The Transition to Virtual Reality
Facing the challenge of relocating due to the redevelopment of Leeds Train Station, Leeds Museums and Galleries, alongside the Henry Moore Institute, endeavored to immortalize the installation. The result is an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience accessible online at henry-moore.org/light-neville-street and within the physical archives of the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds. The VR collection includes not only a 360-degree video but also the artist’s early sketches, design proposals, and technical documentation. This innovative approach ensures that the artwork remains an integral part of the city’s cultural narrative. “It’s fantastic to see the city’s cultural community working together to secure this innovative piece of public artwork for future generations,” commented Councillor Jonathan Pryor of Leeds City Council.
A Public Artwork’s New Chapter
The installation, which was originally launched in 2009, played a significant role in the early stages of the South Bank regeneration project. Its integration of sound and computing technologies made it a unique public sculptural work at the time. Sue Ball, director of project producers MAAP, reflected on the project’s significance: “‘A Light and Sound Transit’ continues to hold international significance in helping reshape what public sculpture can be.” Not confined to physical presence, the artwork now enters a new phase of existence, inviting a global audience to engage with its transformative essence. Its portrayal through VR paves the way for a contemporary understanding and appreciation of such public art forms.
- Leeds Art Gallery offers a virtual reality experience of Hans Peter Kuhn’s installation “A Light and Sound Transit,” preserving its cultural impact amidst redevelopment.
- The installation transformed Neville Street with 3,200 LED lights and 96 sound compositions, providing commuters with a dynamic experience each morning.
- The VR experience includes a 360-degree video and archival materials, accessible online and at the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds.
- The initiative aims to secure the innovative public artwork for future generations and encourage new thinking about public sculpture.
- “A Light and Sound Transit” played a significant role in the South Bank regeneration project and continues to hold international significance through its VR portrayal.