Behind the Scenes at Impossible Perspectives Lab

Impossible Perspectives Lab was a unique XR (extended realities) residential talent development programme in March 2022, for UK-based artists Baff Akoto, Thomas Buckley, Angela YT Chan, enorê and Kialy Tihngang.

Inspired by Tatton Park’s landscape (a large heritage attraction in Cheshire), and their collection of works by Italian painter Canaletto, the programme offered a supportive space for sharing, learning and expanding selected artists’ practices in scale and technologies of production, such as augmented, virtual, and mixed reality technologies (XR). The artists were invited to live together on site for one week, taking part in workshops and talks led by Established contemporary artists and leading sector experts, as well as the chance to explore the site and develop proposals for new work, supported by AND producers.

Canaletto’s works are renowned for their immersive qualities of imaginary architectural views (referred to as capricci), creating ‘impossible perspectives’ considered to be fledgling versions of current virtual reality. Taking the lead from Canaletto’s works in Tatton’s collection , our programme supported the artists to consider: How can new technologies of seeing allow us to question landscapes, histories and architecture in the present? How can augmented realities challenge and excite public experiences of collections? How can art change our perspectives on power, wealth and histories?

Watch the short film below and browse our photo gallery to see what the artists got up to at Tatton Park.

​​Impossible Perspectives Lab is a new UK artist residency programme for Tatton Park. Produced by Abandon Normal Devices, commissioned by Abandon Normal Devices and Cheshire East Council as part of SHIFT. Supported with public funds from Arts Council England, with additional support from the Italian Cultural Institute in London.