Step Insyde

Biennial installation for the Walker Art Gallery

16 September – 26 November 2006

The Walker Art Gallery is delighted to present Insyde – a unique interactive installation created by multi-disciplinary design collective Airside. The artwork is specially commissioned for the fourth Liverpool Biennial.

The piece is designed specifically for the upper hall in the Walker - a spectacular marble- lined thoroughfare between galleries that is part of the original building, dating from 1877. The installation responds to the atmosphere and architecture of the area and the movement of people passing through it.

Insyde envelops the exterior and interior of a large, cubed space built within four existing neo-classical columns. On entering the space, visitors are transported to a fantasy world– a mixture of actual and virtual objects where the distinction between reality and fantasy is blurred.

The world comprises a mixture of real world objects, wall projections and music. Fred Deakin, who is one half of dance act Lemon Jelly, has specially composed this music for Insyde and it is an integral part of the piece.

As the viewer immerses in the environment, they meet the animated inhabitants of the world. Creatures gradually emerge from the projections until they become clearly visible, reacting to motion detected by sensors built into the structure.

But, the inhabitants are shy. Sudden movements can scare them away. They respond only to slow, gentle movement from individuals, encouraging viewer and inhabitant to come to an understanding, which in turn, allows for a scene to fully unfold.

The experience between the gallery’s visitors and the inhabitants is almost that of discovering an alien tribe - both groups keenly yet cautiously observe one another and it requires patience and coaxing if the creatures and their world are to be fully revealed.

Ann Bukantas, curator of fine art at National Museums Liverpool, says:

 “Insyde is a unique and intriguing artwork that our visitors will need a combination of patience and curiosity to fully explore. The installation reflects Airside’s ability to push at creative and technical boundaries. It makes an innovative yet enchanting piece that will complement both the historic interior of the gallery and the diversity of work on show in Liverpool, during the Biennial.

Given the city’s musical past, it is also exciting that Fred Deakin is composing a new piece of music which forms an important part of Insyde. This element of the work really captures the contemporary spirit of the Biennial“.

Insyde is exhibited throughout the Liverpool Biennial, the UK’s biggest contemporary art festival, alongside the John Moores 24 exhibition.

Notes to Editors

Airside is an ideas-led design group, started in 1998. It comprises 11 people with backgrounds ranging from Fine Art through English Literature and Architecture to Design.

They have previously worked with the Royal College of Art, the Science Museum, Tate Britain, the V&A, the Crafts Council and the ICA on a wide variety of projects, from multi-media installation and performance to public art, printmaking, animation and design.

Airside work in every possible medium they can, including on posters, web sites, brand identities, events, pop promos, tee shirts and animations for mobile phones as well as knitting, screen-printing and badge-making. In more recent projects their work has fused fine art, design, music and interactive sculptural installations.

For ten weeks every two years, several hundred of the world’s most exciting visual artists show their work in over 40 locations across Liverpool city centre, from major gallery spaces to unexpected temporary locations. The fourth Liverpool Biennial, the UK's contemporary visual art festival, takes place 16 September to 26 November 2006. Co-ordinated by Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art Ltd, it is delivered in association with the city’s major visual arts organisations: Tate Liverpool, the Walker Art Gallery, FACT (Foundation for Art & Creative Technology) Open Eye, afoundation and Bluecoat Art Centre as well as smaller arts groups and organisations. An extensive programme includes International 06, John Moores 24, Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2006 and a penumbra of smaller scale exhibitions.

For more information, visit www.biennial.com

Interviews with both Nat Hunter and Fred Deakin can be arranged upon request.
Images available upon request.

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