We love a good immersive art experience here in Manchester – just look at the success of the David Hockney and Yayoi Kusama exhibitions at Aviva Studios for reference. Now, a very special immersive art experience has arrived in Salford, by the name of Stories – Brought to Life, set to entrench visitors in the world of some of the most recognisable faces in UK history, culture and general everyday life.
The National Portrait Gallery and FRAMELESS Creative, the UK’s leading creator of immersive experiences, brings Stories – Brought to Life, the first immersive art experience of a UK national collection, to the public at MediaCity in Salford – running until Sunday 31 August ahead of a planned national tour.
The groundbreaking new immersive, cinematic show promises to redefine the gallery experience, with an emotionally charged spectacle that pushes the boundaries of creative storytelling. This unique experience explores the fascinating lives behind some of the most iconic faces from the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection who have shaped the UK’s history and culture, and visitors can step into a world where the sitters’ stories come alive.
From royalty and cultural icons to fearless leaders and national heroes, past and present, their stories unfold in an unforgettable journey that fuses the best of art, technology and powerful human storytelling. Featured people include Winston Churchill, Charles Darwin, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth II, Ncuti Gatwa, Audrey Hepburn, Dorothy Hodgkin, Mai, Nelson Mandela, Emmeline Pankhurst, Grayson Perry, Mary Seacole, William Shakespeare, Amy Winehouse, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf and Malala Yousafzai.
The stories are presented on a spectacular scale, travelling across specially created frames, drawing on unprecedented access to industry leading visual effects, music and imagery, to give visitors a new way to experience some of the stories that form part of the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection. For its premiere in Salford, Stories – Brought to Life is presented in a specially designed, 10,000 sq ft state of the art, immersive digital gallery in the heart of MediaCity.
The new experience brings together a rich tapestry of media, from archival content and photography to excerpts from powerful speeches and original animation, making it a completely new experience.
Ryan Atwood, Creative Director for FRAMELESS Creative, said: “Working with a cultural institution like the National Portrait Gallery has been a unique experience, especially having the opportunity to draw upon the expertise, knowledge and passion of the curatorial team.
“But the magic has also come from studying the sitters and working with the families, estates and the sitters themselves to understand more about the individuals behind the portraits to create an unparalleled encounter with some of the world’s most famous personalities.”
Stories – Brought to Life is now open to the public until August 31 at MediaCity, Salford before going on a UK tour. You can find tickets here.