Client
Absolutely Cultured
Location
Northern Lights, Hull
Client
Absolutely Cultured
Location
Northern Lights, Hull
Project Details
A Walk Through Time: Textile Patterns Brought to Life
Avenue by NOVAK was a 65-meter-long projection installation presented at Absolutely Cultured’s Urban Legends: Northern Lights event in Hull, November 2018. This immersive artwork transformed Parliament Street into a living textile, celebrating iconic 20th-century designs and their cultural journeys across the North Sea between Hull and Västra Götaland, Sweden. By projecting vibrant, evolving patterns directly onto the street, Avenue allowed visitors to walk through history, experiencing the stories and heritage woven into these designs. Complementing the visuals, an evocative multi-channel sound piece by Ed Carter extended the themes of international discourse, migration, and maritime connections, creating a sweeping sonic tapestry that flowed alongside the projected designs. Avenue featured works by Hazel Dunn, NOVAK, Toni Lee, and acclaimed Hull-born mid-century designer Shirley Craven, paying tribute to the rich history of pattern-making and textile craftsmanship.
Project Details
A Walk Through Time: Textile Patterns Brought to Life
Avenue by NOVAK was a 65-meter-long projection installation presented at Absolutely Cultured’s Urban Legends: Northern Lights event in Hull, November 2018. This immersive artwork transformed Parliament Street into a living textile, celebrating iconic 20th-century designs and their cultural journeys across the North Sea between Hull and Västra Götaland, Sweden. By projecting vibrant, evolving patterns directly onto the street, Avenue allowed visitors to walk through history, experiencing the stories and heritage woven into these designs. Complementing the visuals, an evocative multi-channel sound piece by Ed Carter extended the themes of international discourse, migration, and maritime connections, creating a sweeping sonic tapestry that flowed alongside the projected designs. Avenue featured works by Hazel Dunn, NOVAK, Toni Lee, and acclaimed Hull-born mid-century designer Shirley Craven, paying tribute to the rich history of pattern-making and textile craftsmanship.
The Brief
Bridging History, Design, and Cultural Exchange
The goal was to create an engaging, large-scale public installation that showcased the evolution of textile design, while also reflecting Hull’s maritime connections to Sweden. The piece needed to be visually striking, offering a dynamic experience that seamlessly blended history, contemporary design, and sound. Additionally, the installation had to highlight the influence of migration and trade on textile artistry, demonstrating how patterns and techniques have traveled across borders and generations.
The Brief
Bridging History, Design, and Cultural Exchange
The goal was to create an engaging, large-scale public installation that showcased the evolution of textile design, while also reflecting Hull’s maritime connections to Sweden. The piece needed to be visually striking, offering a dynamic experience that seamlessly blended history, contemporary design, and sound. Additionally, the installation had to highlight the influence of migration and trade on textile artistry, demonstrating how patterns and techniques have traveled across borders and generations.
Our Response
A Moving Tapestry of Light and Sound
NOVAK designed Avenue as a flowing projection experience, where patterns unfolded, shifted, and transformed in response to the historical and cultural narratives they represented. The animation reimagined textiles as a living, breathing entity, allowing audiences to see the evolution of design play out beneath their feet. The sound design by Ed Carter further enriched the experience, using layered compositions to reflect the movement of trade, cultural exchange, and shared histories. As visitors walked through Parliament Street, they were immersed in both the visual and auditory journey, connecting them to the artistry and craftsmanship of generations past and present. By combining light, motion, and sound, Avenue became a stunning tribute to textile design, celebrating heritage, migration, and the enduring power of pattern.
Our Response
A Moving Tapestry of Light and Sound
NOVAK designed Avenue as a flowing projection experience, where patterns unfolded, shifted, and transformed in response to the historical and cultural narratives they represented. The animation reimagined textiles as a living, breathing entity, allowing audiences to see the evolution of design play out beneath their feet. The sound design by Ed Carter further enriched the experience, using layered compositions to reflect the movement of trade, cultural exchange, and shared histories. As visitors walked through Parliament Street, they were immersed in both the visual and auditory journey, connecting them to the artistry and craftsmanship of generations past and present. By combining light, motion, and sound, Avenue became a stunning tribute to textile design, celebrating heritage, migration, and the enduring power of pattern.
Credits
Credits
Commissioned by Absolutely Cultured as part of Urban Legends: Northern Lights
Design and Animation by NOVAK and Hazel Dunn
Additional Design by Shirley Carven and Toni Lee
Sound Design and Production by Ed Carter
Tuba player – Phil Rosier
Technical – QED
Production Management – Graeme Nixon and Dan Adams
Developed from an original concept by Phil Supple and NOVAK
Special thanks to Shirley Craven, Viktoria Holmqvist and the Textill Museet (Borås, Sweden), Ali Hart at AAC Art books, Lesley Jackson, Max Holdaway and all at Absolutely Cultured.
Project reference imagery:
Textile designs © Shirley Craven, produced by Hull Traders
Photographs © Shirley Craven Collection / Private Collection
Courtesy of Lesley Jackson, Shirley Craven and Hull Traders – Revolutionary Fabrics and Furniture 1957-1980 (Antique Collectors’ Club)
Event video by NOVAK
Event photography by Peter Harbour / Hull Daily Mail
Credits
Credits
Commissioned by Absolutely Cultured as part of Urban Legends: Northern Lights
Design and Animation by NOVAK and Hazel Dunn
Additional Design by Shirley Carven and Toni Lee
Sound Design and Production by Ed Carter
Tuba player – Phil Rosier
Technical – QED
Production Management – Graeme Nixon and Dan Adams
Developed from an original concept by Phil Supple and NOVAK
Special thanks to Shirley Craven, Viktoria Holmqvist and the Textill Museet (Borås, Sweden), Ali Hart at AAC Art books, Lesley Jackson, Max Holdaway and all at Absolutely Cultured.
Project reference imagery:
Textile designs © Shirley Craven, produced by Hull Traders
Photographs © Shirley Craven Collection / Private Collection
Courtesy of Lesley Jackson, Shirley Craven and Hull Traders – Revolutionary Fabrics and Furniture 1957-1980 (Antique Collectors’ Club)
Event video by NOVAK
Event photography by Peter Harbour / Hull Daily Mail
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