An immersive art experience that will bring the National Portrait Gallery’s collection to life is set to open this weekend in MediaCity.
The first immersive art experience of a UK national collection, Stories – Brought to Life will open on Friday 2 May and will be open until Sunday 31 August.
The experience will be open for over three months in Salford before heading on a national tour with dates to be announced.
Created by FRAMELESS Creative, the UK’s leading creator of immersive experiences, and inspired by the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection.
This groundbreaking new immersive, cinematic show promises to redefine the gallery experience, with an emotionally charged spectacle that pushes the boundaries of creative storytelling.
Visitors will step into a world where the sitters’ stories come alive.
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.
From royalty and cultural icons to fearless leaders and national heroes, past and present, their stories will unfold in an unforgettable journey that fuses the best of art, technology and powerful human storytelling.
Stories – Brought to Life will feature immersive art displays of Jane Austen, David Bowie, Winston Churchill, Charles Darwin, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth II, Ncuti Gatwa, and Audrey Hepburn.
With the artist Emma Ferrer, granddaughter of Audrey Hepburn, being amongst the first visitors to Stories – Brought to Life.
Emma Ferrer, granddaughter of featured sitter Audrey Hepburn, said: “I am incredibly proud to be the granddaughter of Audrey Hepburn. She was a brilliant actress, a timeless icon and a tireless crusader for the world’s underprivileged children.
“She was also the subject of beautiful works of art that have persisted through time, and I think she would have been humbled by this incredible artistic experience.
“The way it brings to life the National Portrait Gallery’s portraits of beloved individuals is moving,” she continued.
The immersive art experience will also include Dorothy Hodgkin, Mai, Nelson Mandela, Emmeline Pankhurst, Grayson Perry, Mary Seacole, William Shakespeare, Amy Winehouse, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf and Malala Yousafzai.
Ahead of the opening on Friday 2 May, Victoria Siddall, Director, National Portrait Gallery, said: “The National Portrait Gallery’s Collection is unique in being about people and for people, and the stories we tell about the individuals who have shaped our history and culture have the power to inspire and to bring people together.
“Our history has always been one of innovation, so we are excited to partner with FRAMELESS on this ground-breaking immersive experience featuring some of the extraordinary people in our Collection.
“I am grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to bring this project to life, and of course to the families, representatives and sitters themselves who have so generously allowed us to tell their stories and to take them to audiences outside our walls.”
The stories will be presented on a spectacular scale, travelling across specially created frames, drawing on unprecedented access to industry leading visual effects, music and imagery.
The FRAMELESS team, including production partner Cinesite, the leading digital Hollywood visual effects company, known for their contributions to blockbuster films, including the Harry Potter and Marvel franchises.
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.
“Our team, comprising of researchers, world class animators, visual effects specialists, music and spatial sound designers, composers and writers, have delved deep into the life stories of the individuals to bring them to life.”
Ryan continued: “Through the power of digital storytelling, we can’t wait to share our work with the public, helping to ensure that this incredible Collection continues to be accessible and have cultural significance with the next generation.”
The experience will open to the public on 2 May and run until 31 August at MediaCity, Salford, Greater Manchester, before going on a UK tour.
Residents interested in buying tickets or searching for more information can find it here.
Featured image – Credit: David Parry
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