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To explore the design and cultural impact of the ocean liner on an international scale by investigating all aspects of the design from groundbreaking engineering, architecture and interiors to the fashion and lifestyle promoted aboard.
To present a stunning and immersive exhibition that proudly showcases over 250 fascinating objects that reveal the history, sociology and design behind some of the world’s most luxurious liners.
Next: The TechnologySeascape Panorama comprises of two seamlessly blended short throw laser projections that are perfectly scaled and overlaid with the setworks to deliver a beautiful sea view. As visitors stroll aboard the ship decking, they can stand at the railings and gaze out to sea watching a cruise liner glide across the ocean of this sunny daydream scene.
Throughout the exhibition, discreetly mounted loudspeakers are subtly blended with the environment to deliver multiple audio soundscapes; each is perfectly matched to the themed space and corresponding narrative. The soundscape is further amplified and heightened In Engineering, with an active subwoofer creating heavy reverberations and depth of sound, mimicking an engine room setting itself. As the visitor travels through the exhibition, so too does the accompanying adjoining audio.
The decadence, glamour and nighttime romance of Grande Descente is recreated with 4 synchronised projections of a man and woman dressed in their evening attire descending a staircase. With projection screens suspended asymmetrically amongst a night sky of LED starry walls, the looping media content and perfect geometry correction are attributed to the 6-channel rack mounted watchout server.
In Metaphor of the Liner a wooden panel fragment from an overdoor in the first-class lounge on Titanic is displayed beneath a projected overlay of water. Restricted by the fragility and sensitivity of this object, lighting levels were carefully considered resulting in two seamlessly blended projections. This results deliver a single projected visual that translates the key narrative into something powerful and reminiscent, without sacrificing on the protection of the object.
'The size and the detail are breathtaking. Elsewhere in the show, an entire wall is given over to a rippling blue sea, crossed back and forth by a series of computer-generated liners trailing smoke from their funnels. This too is transfixing.'
'Then, we are up on deck, considering pool-side fashions, to a soundtrack of seagulls, before a dramatic projection simulates elegant passengers, dressed in satin and silk, wafting down the “grande descente” en route to dinner. By now, we have been whisked away to a sort of luxurious fantasy land...'
'For the occasions liners offered for display, from the entrance on board to the grand descent that first-class passengers made down the steps to dinner — brilliantly evoked here.'
'This opulent exhibition at the V&A shows how for almost 100 years, the sea was where nations displayed their wealth, and where the upper crust set the latest fashions...A maritime exhibition might not scream ‘interesting’ to everyone, but this one really is laden with visual gifts.'
'Brief fragments of film, as throughout the exhibition, give a tantalising hint of just how showy the look of the whole thing was.'
