Installation: Magic Carpets By Miguel Chevalier

WORDS Cheri Morris IMAGES miguelchevalier.com VIDEO Claude Mossessian on Vimeo

Recently spotted at the Milton Keynes Festival, artist Miguel Chevalier had visitors of all ages in awe with his Magic Carpets installation, a mesmerising combination of light and interactivity.

The large-scale, virtual reality installation that takes the form of a massive “carpet of light” allows people to change its appearance simply by walking over it (it is also wheelchair/pram-friendly).

The installation is inspired by shapes associated with the Milton Keynes cityscape and figures found in the natural and digital universe. The multicoloured graphic scenes are prompted to change by sensors placed beneath them that are activated when pressure is applied.

When prompted, the sensors change the imagery on the carpet by dividing and multiplying shapes, resulting in a unique kaleidoscopic experience for each “explorer”.

Visitors could also accompany their visual experience with an auditory one as well. Sonic artist, Ray Lee teamed up with Chevalier to create sound spheres – special mobile sound commissions that the user could carry with them while exploring the Magic Carpets.

The sound spheres are small silver discs that interact with the carpet as you walk over it, emitting musical sounds that align with the changes in imagery projection.

Find more of Chevalier’s work at miguel-chevalier.com.