Immersive VR Exhibition Brings UK Acid House History to Life

In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats, an immersive VR exhibition at the Barbican Centre in London, celebrates acid house culture from 1989. Visitors can interact together in a virtual environment designed by Darren Emerson. It runs from 22nd May to 3rd August and will tour other UK cities afterward.

An immersive virtual reality exhibition, titled In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats, has opened at the Barbican Centre in London. Running from 22nd May until 3rd August, this experience is part of the Frequencies series, which explores influential sounds and music culture. Visitors are invited to journey back to 1989, diving into the world of acid house and UK rave culture, where they can engage together in groups of four.

Developed by Darren Emerson and East City Films, this latest VR project first debuted in Coventry in 2022. Emerson has dubbed it “the UK’s biggest VR experience.” The exhibition not only showcases For Feel The Sound — an all-day event led by Warp Records — but includes performances and programming focused on London’s pirate radio stations too.

Emerson shared his thoughts on traditional music documentaries, stating, “I find music documentaries about acid house a bit boring.” He expressed a desire for an experience that lets people “actually do it.” The exhibition’s aim is to transport attendees back in time, offering an interactive and engaging environment.

Participants wear VR headsets, headphones, haptic vests, and will find themselves navigating through diverse settings from a suburban bedroom to a vibrant rave. Visitors can perform various actions like playing records or picking up flyers, creating an immersive surrounding where sounds are spatially positioned and connected to the environment. For instance, a ringing phone can be heard from a specific direction, enhancing realism.

The experience roots itself in the early acid house days — influenced by events in the West Midlands. Through interviews, it showcases figures from Coventry and Birmingham, including promoters and police, providing personal stories that reflect how rave culture reconciled local tensions.

Darren Emerson emphasises the universal aspect of the experience, indicating its appeal across cultural and temporal boundaries. He explains how visitors can navigate dreamlike sequences and vibrant visuals inspired by original rave flyers, enhancing the overall atmosphere. He aims to show the connection brought by music and dancing, as articulated through those iconic flyers.

Success has followed In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats, with previous installations in cities like Birmingham, Brighton, and Belfast all breaking visitor number expectations. After London, the exhibition will travel to Leeds, Warwick, and Cardiff, where it intends to attract a diverse audience, from nostalgic older visitors to curious younger ones eager to experience this enduring legacy of rave culture.

The exhibition features contemporary tracks too, including Max Cooper’s ‘Aleph 2,’ to shape a more cinematic feel. Other installations during the Frequencies series, like Jan St Werner’s haptic installation and Elsewhere’s remix game, encourage active interaction beyond mere listening, wanting to renew interest in traditional instruments among the youth.

Visitors can also experience cooperative efforts between the Trans Voices collective and MONOM amongst others, which invite audiences to contribute to a collective holographic choral sound project. Cooper’s own installation located in the Barbican’s underground car park features audience responses to unexpressed feelings, creating a visually and audibly immersive engagement.

Additionally, the exhibition enjoys contributions like the flashy Joyride installation with vintage hot rods, designed to prompt visitor participation. In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats and Feel The Sound exhibitions both run at the Barbican until early August, further showcasing London’s vibrant cultural landscape.

In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats brings to life the essence of acid house culture through an immersive VR experience while also addressing the broader context of music and community. With its unique format and interactive approach, the exhibition not only reflects a nostalgic moment in UK history but also strives to connect generations through shared experiences in music and culture. Following its run in London, the exhibition will tour other cities, indicating its rising popularity and success.

Original Source: djmag.com