Ways of Looking, a new photography festival in Bradford, is inviting you to play four new adventure trails around the city, created by Invisible Flock.
'The Visitor' is a citywide pervasive game using emerging technology such as RFID and augmented reality software that audiences can experience directly through their smart or mobile phones. The routes begin at Impressions Gallery, Centenary Square, Bradford, and are free to play Tuesday to Sunday until 30 October 2011.
'The Visitor' brings together a mix of old technology including a sea telescope; existing technology including the Bradford BBC Big Screen, and emerging technologies such as augmented reality software to change the way we perceive existing landmarks. The walking-routes are designed to be accessed using mobile and smartphones, with one route devised for non-mobile-phone users. Audiences are guided around the city by text message, phonecall, objects installed in unusual spaces, and audio recordings triggered by visitors.
'The Visitor' involves four routes taking in the city’s relationship with film & photography; its hidden architectural gems, the former Bradford Odeon and a secret location never usually accessed by the public; and a range of cherished spaces including Bradford Cathedral Gardens and the Midland Hotel, where the artists have prepared some entertaining surprises for visitors.
The four routes in the game you can choose from are:
• ‘The Visitor’ sets in motion a hunt for John Ruskin’s ‘lost daguerreotype’ (an old photograph) believed to be located somewhere in Bradford. • ‘Words in Stone’ considers the architecture of the city and our relationship to it and draws comparisons between Bradford and Berlin. • ‘Look Again’ takes visitors on mysterious Victorian Gothic horror quest, through the backstreets of the city. • ‘The Monster’, designed for families and non mobile phone users, is a quest to help a talented surgeon make a monster to protect the city from a giant spider.
Choose one route or feel free to play them all!
The Visitor is FREE TO PLAY, drop in from 11am to 4pm, daily throughout October 2011 (except Mondays)
Find out more about the making of the game and the ideas behind the work at the free Artist Talk and Walk on Wednesday 19 October 2011 at 6.30pm http://bit.ly/nyaHsH
Developed and created by interactive artists Invisible Flock in partnership with Impressions Gallery.
Funded by Arts Council England through the National Lottery and Bradford Metropolitan District Council. Supported by The Culture Company's Artimelt programme, The Midland Hotel, National Media Museum, Bradford Cathedral, Waterstones, Pop Up, Fabric, Theatre in the Mill, The University of Bradford.
*Standard text and call charges apply on some routes. Spare mobile phones are available on request.