Client
Lumiere Festival
Location
Durham Castle, Lumiere Durham
Client
Lumiere Festival
Location
Durham Castle, Lumiere Durham
Project Details
A Magical Illumination of Durham Castle
Fool’s Paradise was a spectacular projection-mapping installation commissioned for Lumiere Durham, the UK’s largest light festival. This large-scale artwork transformed the UNESCO heritage site of Durham Castle into a living canvas, immersing audiences in a fantasy world inspired by local folklore and fairytales. Using a combination of stop-motion animation, intricate paper cutting, and hand-drawn illustrations, Fool’s Paradise brought whimsical characters and mythical tales to life, creating a seamless narrative that unfolded across multiple locations in the city. Accompanied by a beautifully composed soundtrack by Ed Carter, the piece captivated audiences with its rich storytelling and dreamlike visuals. Featured in The Independent, The Guardian, and BBC, Fool’s Paradise was a standout highlight of Lumiere Durham 2017, drawing over 200,000 visitors across the festival’s four days.
Project Details
A Magical Illumination of Durham Castle
Fool’s Paradise was a spectacular projection-mapping installation commissioned for Lumiere Durham, the UK’s largest light festival. This large-scale artwork transformed the UNESCO heritage site of Durham Castle into a living canvas, immersing audiences in a fantasy world inspired by local folklore and fairytales. Using a combination of stop-motion animation, intricate paper cutting, and hand-drawn illustrations, Fool’s Paradise brought whimsical characters and mythical tales to life, creating a seamless narrative that unfolded across multiple locations in the city. Accompanied by a beautifully composed soundtrack by Ed Carter, the piece captivated audiences with its rich storytelling and dreamlike visuals. Featured in The Independent, The Guardian, and BBC, Fool’s Paradise was a standout highlight of Lumiere Durham 2017, drawing over 200,000 visitors across the festival’s four days.
The Brief
Bringing Folklore to Life Through Projection Mapping
The challenge was to create an immersive, large-scale projection piece that not only complemented the historic grandeur of Durham Castle but also celebrated the rich folklore and storytelling traditions of the region. The piece needed to be visually enchanting, weaving together multiple mythologies and local tales into a cohesive, evolving narrative. Additionally, the work had to be highly detailed, using traditional animation techniques to add a handcrafted, organic feel to the projections.
The Brief
Bringing Folklore to Life Through Projection Mapping
The challenge was to create an immersive, large-scale projection piece that not only complemented the historic grandeur of Durham Castle but also celebrated the rich folklore and storytelling traditions of the region. The piece needed to be visually enchanting, weaving together multiple mythologies and local tales into a cohesive, evolving narrative. Additionally, the work had to be highly detailed, using traditional animation techniques to add a handcrafted, organic feel to the projections.
Our Response
A Fantastical Journey Through Light and Storytelling
NOVAK developed Fool’s Paradise as an intricately detailed, visually rich experience that transported audiences into a world of legend and imagination. By using hand-drawn artwork, paper-cut animation, and stop-motion techniques, the projections retained a tangible, handmade quality, blending old-world storytelling with cutting-edge digital technology. The custom-composed soundtrack by Ed Carter further enhanced the atmosphere, syncing seamlessly with the projections to guide viewers through the mythical landscapes and evolving scenes. With its bold artistic approach and deep connection to local folklore, Fool’s Paradise stood out as a landmark installation at Lumiere Durham, leaving a lasting impression on audiences and earning widespread media recognition.
Our Response
A Fantastical Journey Through Light and Storytelling
NOVAK developed Fool’s Paradise as an intricately detailed, visually rich experience that transported audiences into a world of legend and imagination. By using hand-drawn artwork, paper-cut animation, and stop-motion techniques, the projections retained a tangible, handmade quality, blending old-world storytelling with cutting-edge digital technology. The custom-composed soundtrack by Ed Carter further enhanced the atmosphere, syncing seamlessly with the projections to guide viewers through the mythical landscapes and evolving scenes. With its bold artistic approach and deep connection to local folklore, Fool’s Paradise stood out as a landmark installation at Lumiere Durham, leaving a lasting impression on audiences and earning widespread media recognition.
Credits
Commissioned by Artichoke.
Technical delivery by QED.
Photography by Simon Williams.
Credits
Commissioned by Artichoke.
Technical delivery by QED.
Photography by Simon Williams.
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