Casa Batlló and Sónar team up in new immersive artistic space
Music by The Chemical Brothers will lead new project in iconic Antoni Gaudí’s modernist building
Iconic modernist building Casa Batlló and electronic music festival Sónar have teamed up to promote a new space for music and visual arts in one of the basements of the monument, located in the center of Barcelona, with internationally renowned artists.
The space is called The Cube and the first project, 'Music: Response' by The Chemical Brothers, can be visited from Friday.
It's a 360-degree installation that immerses the public in the audiovisual universe of the concerts of the English duo formed by Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons.
It's a journey through their hits with the visual works of Smith & Lyall, the visual artists who have accompanied The Chemical Brothers on tour for the past three decades.
The installation brings a new dimension to the creative universe born from the collaboration between Casa Batlló, Sónar and The Chemical Brothers, with some material created for the occasion.
Six-channel video
'Music:Response' is a 13-minute, six-channel video installation with stereo audio. It will be on display from May 24 to July 31 at 9 pm.
According to Sónar's co-director, Enric Palau, the space's great peculiarity is that "it is the only one in Barcelona that has six projection surfaces" and that it creates a feeling of "total immersion."
For the first time, the audience is at the center of the experience, surrounded by the famous 3D robots and dancers.
"There are moments when images of characters dancing invite you to be part of the choreography because they are the same size as you," Palau said.
Open minded visitors
Creators of the visuals for The Chemical Brothers Adam Smith and Marcus Lyall say they feel honored to work in a space designed by the modernist Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, stressing the freedom with which he worked in creating unique worlds.
"People who visit The Cube should do so with an open mind and be ready for surprises to feel the power of the music and visual art," Adam Smith said.
Officially launching this Friday, The Cube features a pixel-based narrative, high-end audio, and contributions from top artists, creators, and engineers.
The experience of The Cube conveys a sense of being surrounded by images and sound, between a state of floating and vertigo.
"There are images at high speed that the body cannot fully experience. This opens up incredible possibilities for innovation," Sónar's co-director said.