Björk Digital debuted in Sydney in June and moved to Tokyo and London. The next stop is Montreal / PHOTO: SANTIAGO FELIPE
Björk Digital is an exhibtion that’s a celebration of technology, art and music, imagined and created by Iceland’s most famous contemporary musician.
Björk has long been a pioneer and fan of technology and in this immersive exhibition her own music is used as a vehicle to explore some of the latest innovations, especially VR. Björk sees the medium as offering new ways to communicate and engage with her audience. Her goal is to release a complete VR version of 2015’s album Vulnicura, and the Björk Digital exhibition, which has already visited Sydney and Tokyo and is on the way to London, has been part of that process.
Songs from the album are the inspiration for full 360-degree VR films that can be tried out by visitors to the next leg of the exhibit, which runs from 1 September to 23 October at Somerset House and is supported by Intel, AMD, HTC, Bowers and Wilkins and Barco. Each VR experience has been a collaboration between Björk and top visual artists, programmers and filmmakers.
“I’m so excited to invite you all to Björk Digital at Somerset House,” says Björk. “We’re showing the virtual reality videos from Vulnicura on dozens of headsets and premiering some pleasant surprises. This is a further step to completing the full Vulnicura VR album which will be out soon.”
“I feel the chronological narrative of the album is ideal for the private circus virtual reality is – a theatre able to capture the emotional landscape of it,” she says.
It’s not the first time the singer of the 1995 smash hit “It’s Oh So Quiet” has been involved with cultural institutions. In 2014, MoMA in New York made history when it acquired an app for its collection, Björk’s Biophilia app that used graphics and animations that allowed users to interact with the album’s music.
Furthermore, last year, MoMA held a retrospective that chronicled the career of the experimental star, presenting videos, visuals, costumes and instruments from her first album Debut in 1993, to Biophilia in 2011 and the most recent Vulnicura.
MoMA commissioned Black Lake for that show, a visually and aurally immersive film directed by Los Angeles-based director Andrew Thomas Huang. Black Lake will be shown at Somerset House, alongside Stonemilker VR, shot on a windswept Icelandic beach, and Notget VR, where Björk is transformed into a giant digital moth.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2016 issue 3
Editor’s Letter: Place-Shifting
Technology is giving us the
power to Place-Shift experiences
to create on-demand, immersive
attractions in any location
Promotional Feature: EAS - Beautiful Horizons
The attractions industry is set to descend upon one of Europe’s
most inspiring cities – Barcelona. And if it’s inspiration
you’re looking for, the Euro Attractions Show is the place
Theme Parks: Desert Operations
On the brink of an entertainment revolution, Dubai looks forward to three major theme park openings. Attractions Management caught up with key decision- makers from the upcoming attractions
Mystery Shopper: Disney Delights
Disneyland Shanghai is the company’s first new theme park resort since 2005 and its biggest investment to date. TEA president-elect David Willrich went undercover to find out what Disney’s doing differently
Analysis: Part 3 - Benchmarking
Consultant David Camp asks how we measure success as he focuses on benchmarking and market penetration rates in part three of the series
Opinion: Media Frenzy
Is it time for media-based rides to raise their game? Gavin and Jason Fox, creative directors from Oscar-winning special effects studio Framestore, believe Hollywood-standard content is the next step for the industry
In a world where imbalance often accumulates quietly, Wildsmith unveils its newest
wellbeing innovation: Silent Loads, an approach designed to meet the needs of modern spa
guests with precision and depth. [more...]
Björk Digital debuted in Sydney in June and moved to Tokyo and London. The next stop is Montreal / PHOTO: SANTIAGO FELIPE
Björk Digital is an exhibtion that’s a celebration of technology, art and music, imagined and created by Iceland’s most famous contemporary musician.
Björk has long been a pioneer and fan of technology and in this immersive exhibition her own music is used as a vehicle to explore some of the latest innovations, especially VR. Björk sees the medium as offering new ways to communicate and engage with her audience. Her goal is to release a complete VR version of 2015’s album Vulnicura, and the Björk Digital exhibition, which has already visited Sydney and Tokyo and is on the way to London, has been part of that process.
Songs from the album are the inspiration for full 360-degree VR films that can be tried out by visitors to the next leg of the exhibit, which runs from 1 September to 23 October at Somerset House and is supported by Intel, AMD, HTC, Bowers and Wilkins and Barco. Each VR experience has been a collaboration between Björk and top visual artists, programmers and filmmakers.
“I’m so excited to invite you all to Björk Digital at Somerset House,” says Björk. “We’re showing the virtual reality videos from Vulnicura on dozens of headsets and premiering some pleasant surprises. This is a further step to completing the full Vulnicura VR album which will be out soon.”
“I feel the chronological narrative of the album is ideal for the private circus virtual reality is – a theatre able to capture the emotional landscape of it,” she says.
It’s not the first time the singer of the 1995 smash hit “It’s Oh So Quiet” has been involved with cultural institutions. In 2014, MoMA in New York made history when it acquired an app for its collection, Björk’s Biophilia app that used graphics and animations that allowed users to interact with the album’s music.
Furthermore, last year, MoMA held a retrospective that chronicled the career of the experimental star, presenting videos, visuals, costumes and instruments from her first album Debut in 1993, to Biophilia in 2011 and the most recent Vulnicura.
MoMA commissioned Black Lake for that show, a visually and aurally immersive film directed by Los Angeles-based director Andrew Thomas Huang. Black Lake will be shown at Somerset House, alongside Stonemilker VR, shot on a windswept Icelandic beach, and Notget VR, where Björk is transformed into a giant digital moth.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2016 issue 3
Editor’s Letter: Place-Shifting
Technology is giving us the
power to Place-Shift experiences
to create on-demand, immersive
attractions in any location
Promotional Feature: EAS - Beautiful Horizons
The attractions industry is set to descend upon one of Europe’s
most inspiring cities – Barcelona. And if it’s inspiration
you’re looking for, the Euro Attractions Show is the place
Theme Parks: Desert Operations
On the brink of an entertainment revolution, Dubai looks forward to three major theme park openings. Attractions Management caught up with key decision- makers from the upcoming attractions
Mystery Shopper: Disney Delights
Disneyland Shanghai is the company’s first new theme park resort since 2005 and its biggest investment to date. TEA president-elect David Willrich went undercover to find out what Disney’s doing differently
Analysis: Part 3 - Benchmarking
Consultant David Camp asks how we measure success as he focuses on benchmarking and market penetration rates in part three of the series
Opinion: Media Frenzy
Is it time for media-based rides to raise their game? Gavin and Jason Fox, creative directors from Oscar-winning special effects studio Framestore, believe Hollywood-standard content is the next step for the industry
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of
Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los
Cabos.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
In a world where imbalance often accumulates quietly, Wildsmith unveils its newest
wellbeing innovation: Silent Loads, an approach designed to meet the needs of modern spa
guests with precision and depth. [more...]