Emotional Art

Immersive art that tugs at your emotions.

I’m standing in front of a clock tower. It’s exactly 4.05pm when I hear a woman’s voice in my ear, directing me to an eerily silent, almost threatening Modernist building. She tells me to enter the pitch black hallway where a ghostly presence wanders forlornly in amongst broken twigs. Suddenly the voice tells me to hide – there’s a man coming and he can’t see me. He does see me. He begs me to help him. She’s there again, telling me not to. He grabs my arm and cries out. I turn my head to the wall and wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.

Hall ended yesterday and was one of the most thrillingly emotional experiences I’ve ever participated in. Having downloaded the mp3 prior to arriving, I was told only to follow every instruction the woman uttered, which led me to various rooms and into sometimes frightening scenarios around an abandoned municipal building, ending with me locked in the basement and being told to ‘find my own way out’ before the track abruptly ended.

Missed it? Not to fear.

Following in Hall’s footsteps, and in the shoes of other stand out interactive mystery tours like Punchdrunks 's sold out ‘The Masque of the Red Death’ and Tunnel 228, Money (currently showing at Shunt) and Secret Cinemas (their festive event is this weekend) comes Christmas at No 42 .

Bringing this immersive form of art to life for Christmas is Tony Hornecker, whose dining experience is a recreation of the typical family home during the holidays - where all is not as it seems. The story unfolds during the course of the meal, which can be eaten in various rooms on both sides of the street including number 12's lounge, number 17's bedroom, or even number 32's loo.

As long as I don’t get locked in the cellar with no way home before Christmas, I’m in – because missing out on presents is something I’m ready to get really emotional about.

by MaM

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Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved.