Dominic Harris's immersive installations represent a conscious decision to craft holistic environments that fully envelop the viewer, drawing them into a dynamic interplay between art and technology. Instead of passively observing from a distance, visitors become integral elements within the artwork, their presence and actions shaping the unfolding narrative.
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This immersive interactive artwork explores the microscopic intricacies and shifting colours of Morpho Helena's butterfly wings, reimagined as a landscape.
The immersive installation of 'Spectrum' places the viewer in the centre of a triptych of colourful digital tapestries of butterflies
Endurance is a 360 degree immersion into a hyperreal Antarctic landscape imagining the terrain traversed by renowned explorer Ernest Shackleton
In his immersive multi-sensory installation, Elements, Harris focuses on his beloved butterflies, which for the first time have taken on unique identities representing the five fundamental components of the universe
An immersive projection artwork creating an interactive underwater environment.
Dominic Harris's artistic practice continues to expand to the creation of immersive video installations that transform the viewer from a passive observer into an active participant. Through these immersive art environments, Harris explores themes of nature, technology, and the sublime, encouraging audiences to reconsider their relationship with the digital world and the environment around them.
Technology is at the forefront of Harris's creative process. He describes technology as his 'palette', utilising code, electronics, and sensors to construct worlds that respond to the viewer's presence and actions. He meticulously hand-paints digital elements, layering colours and textures with precision, and then brings these images to life through custom-built hardware and software that allow for movement and interactivity.
One of the most striking features of Harris's immersive installations is their ability to evoke a sense of the sublime. The sublime is an aesthetic concept that refers to an experience of awe, wonder, and even terror, often inspired by the vastness and power of nature. Traditionally, artists have depicted the sublime through paintings or sculptures of dramatic landscapes, storms, and other natural phenomena. However, Harris utilises digital technology to create a contemporary experience of the sublime, immersing the viewer within digitally constructed environments that respond to their presence and actions.
The London studio has a large immersive mock-up space that is rigged with 4K projectors, complete volume skeleton and movement tracking, and laser rangefinders. It is a space where Dominic Harris and his development team are able to test out and preview new immersive concepts.
Within this testing environment, the creative process begins with Harris sketching his initial visions on a tablet, digitally “hand-painting” images layer by layer. This digital sketching phase mirrors the traditional artistic process, allowing Harris to experiment with different compositions and refine his ideas before moving on to more advanced digital tools. Through the use of hand-drawn lines, photomontage, and other digital software, he virtually sculpts and tests concepts, gradually bringing his vision to life.
Once the visual foundation is established, the team begins the intricate process of translating the sketches into a dynamic, interactive experience. This involves a multi-layered approach that encompasses 3D modelling, rigging, skinning, animating, and coding.
As Dominic Harris's immersive installations move from temporary exhibition spaces to permanent homes in both private and public collections, the need for exquisite technical execution becomes paramount. Permanent installations require a level of robustness and refinement that ensures a consistently captivating and seamless experience for years to come. This need for meticulous attention to detail is evident throughout Harris's process, with a unique mixture of custom-built hardware and software that bringing his visions to life.
