Invitation to Preview Screening

Continuum Press Release

Public preview of:

Continuum
A fulldome video art work by Paul Grimmer
Featuring a commissioned 5.1 surround soundscape by Nick Able and Benjamin Freeth

‘Continuum’ will preview at the Planetarium, Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne on Friday 25th June as part of ‘Identity Masquerade’ between 18:30 - 21:00.

Newcastle based artist Paul Grimmer will be premiering his new video work in the unique immersive environment of the Planetarium at Newcastle’s Centre for Life. Grimmer developed the work during artist residencies with the Medical Research Council, Virology Unit in Glasgow (2008) and Allenheads Contemporary Arts in rural Northumberland (2009).

‘Continuum’ has been created specifically for the 10-metre diameter hemispherical screen at Centre for Life’s Planetarium, the largest in the region. Created with support from the development team at Life, ‘Continuum’ uses fulldome technology to create an immersive experience for the viewer, placing them inside of the work. The Centre is currently celebrating 10 years of excellence in the field of genetic research, which has been another influence for Grimmer’s work.

The artist says...

“The work explores the gaps between what we see and understand and what remains unseen and incomprehensible. ‘Continuum’ imagines another world, perhaps a microscopic world, like that of the virus or one that is as unimaginably vast as the universe. These extremes can only be visualised with the help of science and yet retain a sense of wonder and magic, they live in the imagination”

“Certain genetic mutations manifest themselves visibly, others are invisible but are mutations nonetheless. To the virus mutation is key to survival. Viruses are deadly and dangerous, yet highly ordered and beautiful, I am interested in these dualities”

“The Planetarium is designed and best equipped to display astronomical information and 3D animation. Learning how to adapt video for this setting was extremely challenging but also exciting as it offers a unique level of immersion for the viewer”

Complementing the visuals is a 5.1 surround soundscape produced and mixed for the planetarium by composer and musician Nick Able and multi-media artist and musician Benjamin Freeth, both based in Newcastle. The soundscape was created with support from Culture Lab and Newburn Surgery where recordings were gathered from the artist’s body as source material.

During his residency at Allenheads Grimmer contacted prosthetics sculptor Satinder Chumber with a strange request, to make him a tail. This unusual body modification was to be worn during the video shoot for Continuum. The transformation also involved the artist being painted gold from head to foot, creating a body both beautiful and grotesque. Working with movement, researched and developed at Dance City (2009), ‘Continuum’ explores mutation, difference and notions of beauty.

Project supported by:
Allenheads Contemporary Arts, Arts Council England, Centre for Life, Culture Lab, Dance City, Medical Research Council, Newburn Surgery, Newcastle Science Festival 2010

Location:
Life Science Centre, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE1 4EP
For directions see - http://www.life.org.uk/life-science-centre/visit-us

Tickets:
Tickets for the ‘Identity Masquerade’ event cost £5 and are available from Centre for Life, for bookings contact: Niamh on 01912438223

For further information, full resolution images or interviews contact:
Paul Grimmer on 07919568432 or at paul@paulgrimmer.co.uk

image: Colin Davison

www.paulgrimmer.co.uk

BAP Conference at INTECH

images of INTECH Science Centre and Planetarium, Winchester

Continuum had it's first screening for delegates at this years BAP (British Association of Planetaria) conference at INTECH on Friday 5th May. I also spoke on a panel discussion at the conference about the potential for artists to use planetaria for making work.

Intech have an impressive 16 metre diameter dome and a fairly new system, which produced a slightly sharper image on the playback of the work. I hope to be able to show the work there again in the future, the space was fantastic.

AA2A (Artists Access to Art Colleges)

I have just begun a period of work in the Glass and Ceramics Department at Sunderland University as part of the AA2A scheme. The department is based at the National Glass Centre. During my time I hope to re-connect with some of the more sculptural aspect of my practice, working with ceramics. I also hope to work with glass, a material I have not explored in my practice before.

During the time I will be developing ideas and sculptural objects to become part of a new performance installation work for Response, a 3-day festival taking place at Landguard Fort, Felixstowe in October.

Continuum - Video Captures

Continuum - Dome Simulation

These images simulate how Continuum will appear when projected into the dome. The second image also displays the dome coordinates used to position the image on the hemispherical screen.
Simulations created by António Pedrosa (Multimeios)

Distortions

Early experiments for Mutations

Special effects make up - Satinder Chumber

Lighting - James Froment

Camera - Daniel Barella

Filler at INX

Performed at Star and Shadow Cinema at INX

Filming by Debbie Bower and Mat Fleming (Film Bee)

Edit by Mat Fleming

Taking Stock - Difficult Decisions

Following best efforts from the team involved in the making of Continuum we had to pull the work from the Science Festival program at the 11th hour. This decision was not taken lightly but the quality of the video edit as it stood simply wasn't good enough to be shown.

Nick and Ben have made a beautiful soundscape and with new editor Andrzej Wojtas on board renewed energy has been brought to the project.

We hope that Continuum will show in the near future at Centre for Life, the space for which it was originally conceived. However, in the meantime the work will show at the British Association of Planetaria (BAP) conference at Intech, near Winchester in May. Chris Hudson of Centre for Life will be making a presentation about art in domes and he has secured a spot for the work.

Special thanks to Chris for his ongoing support for the project.

Newcastle Science Festival 2010 Brochure

View the full Science Festival brochure here

Mutations Shoot (Day 2)

Images: Daniel Barella

Mutations Production Stills

Images: Daniel Barella

Mutations Shoot (Day 1)

Images: Aaron Blenkin

Images: Daniel Barella

Special thanks to everyone who helped out during the preparation and on the day:

Ian Bailey, camera

Daniel Barella, documentation

Aaron Blenkin, assistant (camera) and documentation

Jo Brossman, costume design

Satinder Chumber, special effects make up

Wendy Erickson, movement research and director on the shoot

James Froment, lighting consultant

Jenny, assistant (make up)

Paul Kemp, camera grip

Fiona Wright, movement research and mentoring