Immersive Art Projects
September 25th 2021
XR21’s first Immersive Arts Symposium marked a bold and visionary step in redefining how we engage with emerging media. Produced by Aidan Hoyle and presented in partnership with Real Ideas, Plymouth University, Plymouth Arts, Plymouth City College, and Falmouth University, the event brought together a dynamic mix of producers, filmmakers, gamers, VR creators, installation artists, and students. At its heart was the world premiere of XR21’s concept work The Art of Dreaming—an evocative, multi-sensory experience that explored the frontiers of immersive storytelling. Led by Dr Gilbert Gabriel, Dartington Arts alumnus and internationally respected composer and Amy Edwards, cellist and lecturer at City College Plymouth, the day bridged academic insight with artistic innovation. Featuring global collaborators like Brooke Einbender, Rein Bijlsma, and Kris Pilcher, XR21 successfully created a fertile ground for discussion, experimentation, and inspiration—demonstrating how immersive arts are not only transforming creative practice, but reshaping our collective future.
February 15th 2022
XR21 created an immersive soundtrack—mixed in Dolby Atmos at Real World Studios—depicting the founding and evolution of Dartington Hall, a visionary estate that grew into a renowned centre for community arts, education, and social progress. The place attracted philosopher Bertrand Russell, who explored education and freedom of thought on the estate, as well as Indian sitar master Ravi Shankar, and social reformer Michael Young, whose ideas laid foundations for the Open University. Lucien Freud briefly studied there, before becoming one of the greatest British painters of his generation. The immersive soundtrack captured Dartington’s extraordinary legacy—where art, music, philosophy, and progressive ideals converged to shape a unique cultural experiment that continues to inspire.
February 27th – March 2nd 2025
Members of XR21, Gilbert Gabriel and Amy Edwards, created an immersive music 5.1 surround soundtrack in Halo for a Bicentenary celebration of Devonport. It included light installations, projections and immersive art inspired by the area's history. The project was part of a wider community initiative involving students from City College Plymouth, who helped design the visuals. The final work was exhibited at Plymouth’s Market Hall Dome as part of the Dazzle Festival of Light.
July 4th – September 1st 2025
XR21 created an immersive photographic exhibition of Dartington Hall in collaboration with photographer Paul Hornsby. It celebrated the centenary of Dartington's contribution to community arts. In addition to presenting his unique infrared photographs in a traditional gallery format, the exhibition featured a companion magazine embedded with QR codes. These linked to original sound poems, inviting viewers to experience the images in a multi-sensory way. This fusion of visual art and immersive audio encouraged a deeper, meditative engagement with Hornsby’s ethereal infrared landscapes.