British-born artist Rupert Newman MA (RCA) has been transforming buildings and spaces into visual spectacles for the past decade. His work is renowned for its unique ability to inspire, uplift and unite people.
As Rupert embraces this new realm of digital artistic expression, he is committed to the meticulous creation of extraordinary experiences that push the boundaries of imagination to new and limitless heights.
His work is aligned with the shift toward heightened environmental consciousness and cutting edge technology. He produces shows you can rely on to capture, mesmerise and elevate an audience in an innovative and sustainably conscious way, without leaving so much as a single mark.
sCreating a Visual Experience
“My artistic focus revolves around fracturing light and juxtaposing crystalline shapes to create harmony and spatial depth in composition. Drawing inspiration from 20th-century artists like Robert Delaunay and Wassily Kandinsky, I use bold colours and expressive marks as the foundation of my animated designs.
The convergence of animated visual design and music captivates me; I view sound and light as fluid entities. Much like the layers in music, I construct my visual content with three to four layers, each serving a distinct purpose.
The interplay of light with diverse surfaces fascinates me, as it possesses the potent ability to react and elicit responses. The vibrancy of color is intricately tied to the shade it falls upon, while surface textures breathe depth into flat hues.
Intense scrutiny of each building facade precedes the design process, with the aim of elevating the architect's work. I utilise each facade as a unique template and canvas for my artistic creations.”
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Story
During his time at the Royal College of Art, London (Printed Textile Design, 2009 / 10) Rupert envisaged a room with walls that were alive with animated pattern.
To develop this, he produced a series of printed wall hangings and used them as screens for projection. Rupert devised a way to harness the light projected onto the fabric, and carefully instruct it to interact with the shapes on its surface. Music was also created (by composer Sarah Warne) to enhance the experience.
This interaction of light with surface shapes and sound was well received in a show of the work - it challenged people’s perception and had a therapeutic effect; a lady was pushing her screaming baby around the exhibition. As they arrived in front of this projection piece, the baby immediately stopped crying.
“That was a profound moment; it became clear that the effect of light is not only visual but touches the very soul”