Blossom

The Brief

Bringing the Natural World Indoors

In 2023, the National Trust partnered with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and his band LYR on a project creating new poems and music centered on the theme of Blossom. This collaboration culminated in 2024 with the release of the Blossomise EP by LYR and an accompanying tour across England, which concluded at Wylam Brewery in Newcastle upon Tyne. To fully immerse the audience and performers in the concept of blossom, NOVAK was commissioned to design and implement an installation that would transform Wylam Brewery's distinctive octagonal performance space. Following the success of the 2024 Blossomise event, the National Trust re-engaged NOVAK. This time, they invited the studio to present a version of the Blossom installation as a standalone piece within a gallery setting for their 2025 Festival of Blossom.

The Brief

Bringing the Natural World Indoors

In 2023, the National Trust partnered with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and his band LYR on a project creating new poems and music centered on the theme of Blossom. This collaboration culminated in 2024 with the release of the Blossomise EP by LYR and an accompanying tour across England, which concluded at Wylam Brewery in Newcastle upon Tyne. To fully immerse the audience and performers in the concept of blossom, NOVAK was commissioned to design and implement an installation that would transform Wylam Brewery's distinctive octagonal performance space. Following the success of the 2024 Blossomise event, the National Trust re-engaged NOVAK. This time, they invited the studio to present a version of the Blossom installation as a standalone piece within a gallery setting for their 2025 Festival of Blossom.

Our Response

Windows into Nature

The unique performance space at Wylam Brewery is an octagonal room, distinguished by a mix of wood paneling and exposed brick, with the audience seated centrally. To create a fully immersive experience, we utilised projection mapping on four of the eight walls. This completely surrounded the audience with huge, animated "windows" into the natural world. The video content consisted of endlessly looping animations of beautiful blossom trees. These visuals evolved from a day's dawning to its night, taking the audience on a stunning natural journey. For the 2025 Festival of Blossom, a change in setting and format presented an opportunity to introduce a complementary interactive element. NOVAK developed a projected floor component that depicted a sea of blossom petals. As audiences walked through them, the petals would react and move, brilliantly complementing the video and providing a further level of engagement.

Our Response

Windows into Nature

The unique performance space at Wylam Brewery is an octagonal room, distinguished by a mix of wood paneling and exposed brick, with the audience seated centrally. To create a fully immersive experience, we utilised projection mapping on four of the eight walls. This completely surrounded the audience with huge, animated "windows" into the natural world. The video content consisted of endlessly looping animations of beautiful blossom trees. These visuals evolved from a day's dawning to its night, taking the audience on a stunning natural journey. For the 2025 Festival of Blossom, a change in setting and format presented an opportunity to introduce a complementary interactive element. NOVAK developed a projected floor component that depicted a sea of blossom petals. As audiences walked through them, the petals would react and move, brilliantly complementing the video and providing a further level of engagement.

Credits

Blossomise at Wylam Brewery, Newcastle upon Tyne. 28th April, 2024.

Performances by

LYR (feat. poet laureate Simon Armitage)
Voices of Virtue,
SL Walkinshaw

Immersive installation (Blossom) by NOVAK.
Commissioned by The National Trust @nationaltrust
Direction, design and animation by NOVAK @novak_uk
Project Management by Sue Collier
Technical partner Trylight

Event Video by NOVAK featuring Profusion by LYR.
Available on the Blossomise EP https://lyrband.bandcamp.com/album/blossomise-ep

Event photography @NationalTrust/Rebecca Hughes.

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Blossom by NOVAK

Presented as part of the National Trust’s Festival of Blossom 2025 at The Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Commissioned by The National Trust @nationaltrust
Direction, animation and interactive design by NOVAK @novak_uk
Sound design and Production by Digital Voice @dvdigitalskills
Technical partner Multicord @multicordav

Installation video by NOVAK

Installation photography @NationalTrust/Rebecca Hughes.

'Many thanks to the players of the Peoples Postcode Lottery who helped to make this happen'

Special thanks to Theresa Elliot, Alex Boyd, Andy Coates, Stephen Holmes and all the staff of the Great North Museum.