'The Danger Tree' At Titanic Belfast

Titanic Belfast marks a new experiential milestone next month when it plays host to 'The Danger Tree', a major interactive and critically-acclaimed digital art exhibition which has drawn record crowds in London, Manchester and Liverpool.

The visually-striking exhibition, created by award-winning artists Scarlett Raven and Marc Marot, tells an immersive story of the soldiers who fought and fell – and the impact on those they left behind.

In first for the island of Ireland, visitors to the free, month-long augmented reality exhibition can fully immerse themselves in a comprehensive and colourful collection of original paintings and limited-edition prints which come 'alive' with archive voices, animation, poetry and music.

Set in an exhibition space of wrecked buildings, devised by the Trainspotting film set designer Kave Quinn, representing the destruction wrought by the first World War, visitors are invited to watch and listen as paintings are transformed to 3D using hand-held devices and earphones.

Each painting at the exhibition, which is named after the tree used as a rallying point by soldiers of the Newfoundland Regiment during their disastrous attack at Beaumont-Hamel on the first day of the Somme, tells the compelling story of a different soldier who fought and fell in the Great War from 1914 to 1918.

The thought-provoking and engaging exhibition is hosted in Titanic Belfast's stunning Andrews Gallery and is open to the public from Thursday 2nd August. Entry is free, and headphones and iPads are provided.

Scarlett Raven, co-creator of The Danger Tree, said: "Titanic Belfast is an iconic, inspirational venue which combines history, heritage and technology to leave visitors with a unique sense of experience and participation.

"The exhibition delivers that same impact, allowing visitors to unlock an exciting and new creative journey using a smartphone app that encompasses multiple layers of art, poetry, animation and music in a first for the island of Ireland."

Co-creator Marc Marot said: "Augmented reality is an outstanding way to inform, engage and entertain and we're excited to be a part of bringing this trailblazing experience to a new generation of visitors."

The poetry of legendary war poets including Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and Rupert Brooke is narrated by award-winning actors including Sean Bean, Christopher Eccleston and Stephen Graham, who provide moving readings to complement the work.

A bespoke music score for each piece has been composed by Reservoir Dogs film composer Marc Canham to bring the exhibition to life.

'The Danger Tree' collection was originally launched, to great acclaim, with a month-long exhibition in London in July 2016. The exhibition has toured to Liverpool's Martin Luther King Jnr Building at Albert Dock and, more recently, to Manchester Central Library in spring 2018.

Scarlett's and Marc's work is exclusively published by leading UK art publisher Washington Green and is available to buy from Castle Fine Art galleries and at the exhibition in Belfast.

For more information, go to TitanicBelfast.com/Dangertree.