Researchers from the Centre for Creative and Immersive EXtended Reality have helped to create a unique and immersive street art experience.
An immersive installation by acclaimed British street artist My Dog Sighs opens this weekend (Saturday 17 July) at The Old Casino in Southsea.
‘Inside’ is My Dog Sighs’ most ambitious project to date, transforming a derelict building into an immersive world inhabited by the artist’s own creatures, dubbed his ‘Quiet Little Voices’.
Like us, these creatures are not perfect nor are their lives perfect. They struggle, they make mistakes, they fail. But like us too, they don’t give up. Even among the decay they use their creativity to find hope – a powerful message in these turbulent times.
For the first time, My Dog Sighs moves into sculpture, fusing his visual language with light and sound installations, alongside the photorealistic paintings and naive characters that define his practice. No longer is the artist the creator, but his creations take on the mantle of ‘My Dog Sighs’ and as viewers we are welcomed ‘Inside’ the world of these ghosts.
One of the curious creatures that feature in the exhibition.
The artist has worked closely with sound experts from the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Creative and Immersive EXtended Reality (CCIXR) to create a unique and immersive street art experience.
The CCIXR team, led by Christopher Whitear and Phil Thompson, created an incredible immersive soundscape which is part of the immersive exhibition. Additionally, CCIXR has digitally captured the exhibition in a variety of formats.
Pippa Bostock, Business Director for CCIXR, said: “The My Dog Sighs ‘Inside’ exhibition is an incredible immersive experience - bringing world-class art together with cutting-edge soundscapes. We are very pleased to have supported My Dog Sighs with this ground-breaking project - and can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
The creatures in the exhibition have been given free rein to take over the multi-storey space, finding shelter and creating their own language amongst the dimly lit corners. Inside responds to the building itself and finds beauty amongst its dilapidated floors and crumbling walls. The project extends My Dog Sighs’ street art practice where he uncovers the beauty of these forgotten spaces and demonstrates the power of creativity to inspire and uplift communities.
The My Dog Sighs ‘Inside’ exhibition is an incredible immersive experience - bringing world-class art together with cutting-edge soundscapes. We are very pleased to have supported My Dog Sighs with this ground-breaking project - and can’t wait to share it with everyone.
Visitors will be welcomed into the space by trained stewards who can provide insight into the themes explored in Inside. My Dog Sighs will also be leading specialist tours for artists during the exhibition to talk more about his life as a street artist working on both sanctioned and unsanctioned projects.
Alongside the installation, My Dog Sighs will be releasing a feature-length documentary and book about the project, as well as an educational pack designed to be used by teachers and students around the world. Taking inspiration from Inside, the pack provides young people with the creative tools needed to find hope in difficult situations and shows how they can use art to empower their local communities.
Tickets are available through My Dog Sighs’ website or follow him on Facebook or Instagram for more updates.
‘Inside’
Friday 16 July – Sunday 1 August
The Old Casino, Osborne Road, Southsea, PO5 3LT
Admission: £10 adults / £5 concession / Children are free