“An interactive about Renaissance painting”
Part of our work happens in Museums, and sometimes, we get an enquiry that’s an opportunity to really get into a subject.
In this case,, it was to produce an interactive display that woul engage visitors to Compton Verney - an amazing Stately House that now houses a wonderful collection. Part of the collection is a series of paintings centred around depicting Naples and Vesuvius, which often feature the volcano and its effects on the people living under its shadow. They are often infused with both the creative power of the landscape and the destructive power of Vesuvius.
The idea was to create the landscape of the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius, and get people to interact with it. So we took a topographical map of the area, and produced it, complete with working volcano. As part of the exhibit, there are coloured cork building blocks, so visitors can make their own compositions in the landscape. To become the artist in that moment. But lurking and ready to knock it all down, that volcano is active…
Vesuvius, Compton Verney
The first thing to do once Ihad taken the call was to book a visit to Compton Verney, and it is a fantastic space. I had meeting with the museum staff and a group of artists who were also looking at projects in the building, and during that visit, the idea took hold of creating a landscape in response to the paintings in the gallery.
That led to am investigation of materiality, and I felt the Douglas Fir blocks would have a great relationship with the woods of southern Italy, the scent of resin. And as a bonus, the end grain finished up beautifully, and is a pleasure to work with! The mechanic of the Volcano core is a pneumatic cylinder with a controlled release valve, that means the Volcano is self resetting and is safe for anyone to use. And can cope with the destructive power of a nine year old, the most destructive power on the planet…