10.06.11 | Ron Arad's Curtain Call at the Roundhouse

As part of Bloomberg Summer at the Roundhouse, internationally renowned artist, architect and designer, Ron Arad has invited his favourite musicians and friends to create unique work for his 360° interactive installation.

Arad’s constant experimentation with materials and his radical approach to form and structure have put him at the forefront of contemporary design. For Curtain Call, he’s responded to the Roundhouse’s spectacular Main Space by creating a curtain made of 5,600 silicon rods, suspended from an 18 metre diameter ring — a canvas for films, live performance and audience interaction.

Blitz will be supplying 12 x Barco RLM W8 projectors, set up in portrait mode, producing an 360° seamless image that measures 56 metres in circumference and 8 metres high. 12 x Dataton Watchout display pc’s deliver video content to the projectors resulting in an overall image resolution of 13,450 x 1900.

Ron Arad says of Curtain Call: “Walk in, penetrate, cross the moving images to get inside the cylinder. You’ll be engulfed by images – a captive, but also a creator. It’s amazing what exciting things happen on both sides of the curtain. I can’t wait.”

Marcus Davey, Roundhouse Artistic Director and Chief Executive: "The Roundhouse Main Space has been the setting for all sorts of brave, influential work over the years. But this is the first time that an installation of such physical scale and creative scope has been staged. Ron's remarkable project marries experimental design with live performance. It looks set to be an unforgettable experience."

Bloomberg: “We're delighted that our collaboration with the Roundhouse and Ron Arad will inspire artists and audiences to engage in new ways through exciting new technology. We're proud to be part of such a unique and extraordinary event.”

Paul Hutton , Managing Director of Blitz, comments, “ When we were approached about getting involved with this project I knew it was going to be groundbreaking. As we move through the pre-production phase I am very excited by some of the concepts I have seen and the interaction between the artists work and the viewer.”

Each year the Roundhouse works with over 3,000 11-25s enabling them to realise their creative potential, and offers audiences of all ages new and extraordinary experiences in live music, circus, theatre and new media.

www.roundhouse.org.uk

Curtain Call will open at the Roundhouse from 9th August until 29th August 2011.