By their very nature, art exhibits take many forms — often unique and never before seen. Many times, facilities teams have a hand in these endeavors to ensure the “shell” housing the exhibit at hand provides the necessary environmental conditions related to heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and more. A current exhibit in New York City is an example of an installation with unusual environmental conditions.
To promote an upcoming miniseries on musical artist Bobby Brown, BET Networks and WP Narrative_, a marketing, entertainment and technology agency, opened a free exhibit on August 19 in Harlem, New York City. To take fans into the complex and creative mind of Bobby Brown, WP Narrative_ created an art installation that is a multi-sensory experience. This premiered during New York City’s 2018 HARLEM WEEK. The miniseries, “The Bobby Brown Story,” is scheduled to air on BET Networks September 4-5, 2018. It will chronicle the artist hailed as the “King of R&B’s” exit from the popular ’80s boy band through his solo musical success.
The highlight of this exhibit is a nearly 30-foot tall inflatable replica of Bobby Brown’s head, and it was created in collaboration with the art collective, CoolSh*T. The replica allows fans to enter the Bobby Brown “Theatre of the Mind.” Visitors experience an imaginative interpretation of his music, relationships, and highs and lows along with the creative process that made Brown a pop culture star in the 1980s.
Measuring 27′ deep x 23′ wide x 28′ tall, the head “welcomes” visitors with 3-D storytelling — passing through Brown’s ephemeral thoughts, capturing his highs and lows — while surrounded by projection mapped brain synapses and floating 3D holograms of key imagery from his life.
In partnership with Holographic Entrance, the mind technology included a FogScreen Projection — video imagery on a wall of fog creating a 3D images that people can walk through and touch, HyperVsn Holograms – 3D holograms, and a 2D Projection Mapped Light show of science of Brown’s brain.
“BET Networks continues to elevate viewer engagement in new and creative ways as it expands the impact of the much-anticipated miniseries ‘The Bobby Brown Story’ to include an immersive fan experience during this NYC’s HARLEM WEEK,” said Jeanine Liburd, chief marketing and communications officer, BET Networks. “We are thrilled to partner with the innovative team at WP Narrative_ to amplify the buzz of the biopic and offer viewers a sneak peek into the mind of R&B legend Bobby Brown. This multilayered-storytelling installation is part of several activations lined up for the series and will definitely get fans excited for the series!”
“When BET approached us to create the promotional piece for the Bobby Brown biopic premiere, we knew the best way was through his head,” said Tricia Clarke-Stone, CEO of WP Narrative_. “Given our close relationship to the entertainment industry and expertise in curating brand experiences through content and tech, it’s been exciting to create a story that people can walk around in, delivering a truly immersive experience
In New York City, the installation is open with free admission daily, from Noon to 8pm, at the corner of Lenox Terrace Place and 135th Street.
