House Of Light
Art In Sunderland, Tyne And Wear
A large-scale mural bursting with energy, depicting Roker Lighthouse.
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Sunderland is changing and there's a vibe about the city with new art installations. House of Light is on the side of a disused Mecca Bingo hall. To add a bit of magic, it is interactive, allowing you to engage with it using an Augmented Reality (AR) app, if you wish, or just look.
The building was opened in 1932 as a Art Deco Regent Theatre with plush fixtures and fittings. It then became a cinema in 1955 and then a bingo hall, which is now closed. It looks like the building will eventually be demolished. However, the House of Light mural fits well on the side wall, and it is not by accident that the lantern at the top features an Art Deco window, as shown in this super capture by our Fabulous Norther Lorraine London.
The artist is Andy Evans, AKA Doddz, (derived from Defy the Oddz) who has a degree in graphic design from Staffordshire University.
Old school may refer to this art as surrealist, and the viewer is encouraged to depict their own metaphors.
Andy Evans applied his street art skills to this collaboration.
The House of Light is an interactive new mural in Sunderland, inspired by Roker Pier lighthouse. According to local legend, the lighthouse is run by a keeper who bottles lightning and stores moments of happiness inside. The mural, created by @doddz lets visitors add their own memories via VR, watching them transform into a bottle of virtual lighting right in front of you. The best part? They glow in real time when lightning strikes the earth!
Global Street Art
My ultimate aim is to redefine the relationship between art, the viewer, and the artist, turning passive viewers into active participants, thereby creating a closer connection with my audience and the art itself.
Doddz
I guess Doddz will become known as the Godfather of AR art. He has a credible portfolio of works with Adidas, Dior, Disney, and Billy Eilish. He is only in his early 30's too! Andy is also giving back by founding an online academy.
In order to make something that no one else had done before I thought about using tech that hadn't been around for very long, and it made sense that there wouldn't be much AR art as it's still very much in its infancy. As soon as I experimented with AR, the reaction was significantly different (in a good way) than all previous attempts so I doubled down and here we are.
Doddz - Interviewed in Metro Newspaper
On your next visit to Sunderland, load up your AR app and bottle some happiness.
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Where To Park For House Of Light?
Parking available near the mural.
Contributed by Rosalind Parker
Thank you for reading. I hope it sparks your interest. It’s always a pleasure to get out and explore, whatever the weather. I enjoy uncovering little snippets of information, especially when they’re obscure, amusing, or meaningful. All photos were taken on a mobile phone.
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Join Our Facebook GroupHouse Of Light was listed in Art // Tyne And Wear // Sunderland