Client
The Space
Location
TSS Manxman ship at the Pallion Shipyard, Sunderland
Client
The Space
Location
TSS Manxman ship at the Pallion Shipyard, Sunderland
Project Details
A Spectacular Fusion of Music, Projection, and Heritage
As part of The Space—an innovative interactive arts initiative by Arts Council England and the BBC—NOVAK was commissioned to create Pallion, a powerful site-specific digital artwork. Premiering at Space Invasion, one of the UK’s largest projects under The Space, Pallion was unveiled at a public event at Sage Gateshead on 22nd September 2012 and made available online via The Space website. A collaboration with Lanterns on the Lake (signed to Bella Union), Pallion combined atmospheric music and projection mapping, illuminating the decommissioned TSS Manxman at Pallion Shipyard, Sunderland. The piece responded to the historic ship and its once-thriving shipyard, telling a compelling visual and sonic story of its past. The Space Invasion event at Sage Gateshead also featured live performances by Ghostpoet, Raj Pannu, Lulu James, Jethro Fox, and Seye, alongside screenings of other Space Invasion works.
Project Details
A Spectacular Fusion of Music, Projection, and Heritage
As part of The Space—an innovative interactive arts initiative by Arts Council England and the BBC—NOVAK was commissioned to create Pallion, a powerful site-specific digital artwork. Premiering at Space Invasion, one of the UK’s largest projects under The Space, Pallion was unveiled at a public event at Sage Gateshead on 22nd September 2012 and made available online via The Space website. A collaboration with Lanterns on the Lake (signed to Bella Union), Pallion combined atmospheric music and projection mapping, illuminating the decommissioned TSS Manxman at Pallion Shipyard, Sunderland. The piece responded to the historic ship and its once-thriving shipyard, telling a compelling visual and sonic story of its past. The Space Invasion event at Sage Gateshead also featured live performances by Ghostpoet, Raj Pannu, Lulu James, Jethro Fox, and Seye, alongside screenings of other Space Invasion works.
The Brief
Transforming a Historic Ship into a Living Canvas
The goal was to create a digital artwork that paid tribute to the TSS Manxman and the Pallion Shipyard’s shipbuilding legacy, while engaging audiences in an innovative and immersive way. The project had to integrate music and projection mapping to bring the ship’s story to life, turning its decommissioned structure into a breathtaking visual and auditory experience. As part of The Space, the project needed to push creative boundaries, embracing digital technology to create a culturally significant and experimental piece that would resonate both in-person and online.
The Brief
Transforming a Historic Ship into a Living Canvas
The goal was to create a digital artwork that paid tribute to the TSS Manxman and the Pallion Shipyard’s shipbuilding legacy, while engaging audiences in an innovative and immersive way. The project had to integrate music and projection mapping to bring the ship’s story to life, turning its decommissioned structure into a breathtaking visual and auditory experience. As part of The Space, the project needed to push creative boundaries, embracing digital technology to create a culturally significant and experimental piece that would resonate both in-person and online.
Our Response
A Poetic Tribute to a Lost Era of Shipbuilding
NOVAK approached Pallion as a multisensory experience, combining hauntingly beautiful music from Lanterns on the Lake with evocative projection mapping that transformed the TSS Manxman into a living, breathing artwork. Using a combination of archival imagery, abstract visuals, and narrative-driven sequences, the projection illuminated the ship’s history, industry, and eventual decline, creating a poignant reflection on Sunderland’s shipbuilding past. The soundscape merged Lanterns on the Lake’s atmospheric music with ambient layers inspired by the shipyard’s industrial sounds, reinforcing the emotional depth of the piece. By seamlessly blending technology, storytelling, and heritage, Pallion not only paid tribute to the TSS Manxman but also demonstrated the power of digital art in preserving and reimagining Britain’s industrial history.
Our Response
A Poetic Tribute to a Lost Era of Shipbuilding
NOVAK approached Pallion as a multisensory experience, combining hauntingly beautiful music from Lanterns on the Lake with evocative projection mapping that transformed the TSS Manxman into a living, breathing artwork. Using a combination of archival imagery, abstract visuals, and narrative-driven sequences, the projection illuminated the ship’s history, industry, and eventual decline, creating a poignant reflection on Sunderland’s shipbuilding past. The soundscape merged Lanterns on the Lake’s atmospheric music with ambient layers inspired by the shipyard’s industrial sounds, reinforcing the emotional depth of the piece. By seamlessly blending technology, storytelling, and heritage, Pallion not only paid tribute to the TSS Manxman but also demonstrated the power of digital art in preserving and reimagining Britain’s industrial history.
“In placing NOVAK together with the band, Lanterns on the Lake, we knew that we could create something really special. The ‘Pallion’ piece was truly stunning and NOVAK created a touching visual response to the Pallion shipyard which perfectly complimented the music and challenging surroundings.”
Joe Frankland
Artist Development Manager- Generator
Other projects
Performance and Theatre
The Paddington Bear Experience
Immersive Visitor Attraction, London
Performance and Theatre
The Paddington Bear Experience
Immersive Visitor Attraction, London
Installation and Exhibition
The Book of Kells Experience
Digital Exhibition, Trinity College Dublin
Installation and Exhibition
The Book of Kells Experience
Digital Exhibition, Trinity College Dublin