Helena Kiely

IMMERSION

The aim of this project was to create a light installation that immerses the viewer in a sculptural space while investigating the materiality of projected light and film through the use of the elements of light, space, sound, and reflection, with primary inspiration drawn from Bill Viola's work with water. This project is comprised of four major components: light, space, sound, and reflection. These elements come together to form a cinematic installation centred around the river. This includes the installation of a film projection, a water tank, and a speaker. The film is projected directly into a glass case, which is then set atop a speaker. A soundtrack of live recordings of the river, some from around the river and some recorded from under water with a hydrophone recording device, plays through the speaker. The vibrations from this track are loud and strong enough to affect the movement of the water in the tank above. A projection of the river plays through the tank, and underneath this film, on the wall in front, is a reflection of the tank's water, which blends beautifully with the film. Here is where the soundtrack vibrations connect with the film, and they now play in unison, forming one complete interpretation of the river's flow.