Students have brought to life the 14th century workshop of one of the Ferens Art Gallery’s most famous artists using cutting-edge digital technology.
Pietro Lorenzetti’s masterpiece, Christ Between Saints Paul and Peter, was acquired by the Ferens before being lovingly restored by the National Gallery.
Year 2 Games Design students at Hull School of Art and Design (HSAD) have recreated how the Italian artist’s 14th century workshop would have looked by creating a stunning fly-through virtual reality experience.
Visitors to the Ferens can now enjoy their work using the museums app, izi.TRAVEL.
The animations are also available on YouTube.
This is the latest project from students at HSAD, who over recent years have produced various different pieces for Hull and East Riding Museums.
Last year, students from HSAD collaborated with music students at the University of Hull to create Bowhead, an audiovisual installation of a mighty Bowhead whale, highlighting Hull’s whaling heritage.
Gareth Sleightholme, lecturer at Hull School of Art and Design, said:
“Over the last seven years we have developed relationships with local partners who value our past work enough to now commission us directly, allowing us to help create high-profile bespoke project elements such as the Lorenzetti workshop project and last year’s Bowhead experience.
“We encourage the students to get out of the studio and interact with the heritage of the city. Our students are not historians – although they all probably know a little more about these subject areas now than they thought possible.
“They are entertainment media specialists and digital artists, beginning their careers in producing work that will no doubt ultimately change the way we view and interact with entertainment, leisure and education in the future.
“Our teams of games design students have embraced the use of these heritage-oriented projects as a means of extending and enriching their observation, research and interpretive skills.
“This has resulted in historical reconstructions of city spaces and connected historical environments that reinterpret and present, back to the public, opportunities to see their city, and the spaces and artefacts within it, in totally new ways.”
The stunning animation of Lorenzetti’s studio shows where the artist would have worked, slept and eaten.
The project was commissioned by Heritage Learning, which is part of Hull Culture and Leisure Ltd.
There is various audio and audiovisual content available on the izi.TRAVEL app, enhancing the visitor experiencing at Ferens Art Gallery.
This includes other pieces focusing on the Lorenzetti piece, including content created by the National Gallery and by the City of Culture Volunteers.
The app also features soundscapes inspired by the gallery’s collection, produced by music students at The University of Hull.
Councillor Dave Craker, Hull City Council Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, said: “It’s fantastic to see the students at Hull School of Art and Design produce yet another outstanding project in partnership with Hull and East Riding Museums.
“These talented young people are the next generation of animators, designers and programmers, and it’s great that their talents can showcase the rich heritage of our city and the incredible pieces within our museums.”
