Impossible Perspectives

March 2022 – ongoing

Impossible Perspectives is a multi-year research and artist development project, which will culminate in a site-wide exhibition at Tatton Park in 2025.

Impossible Perspectives is a collaborative XR programme supporting new visions, exchanges and experiences of heritage. It is inspired by the landscape of Tatton Park, a large, heritage visitor attraction set in the Cheshire countryside, and specifically influenced by the works of the Italian painter Canaletto, whose paintings and drawings form part of Tatton’s mansion collection.

Canaletto’s works are renowned for their immersive qualities of imaginary architectural views, referred to as ‘capricci’. These capricci created ‘impossible perspectives,’ that can be considered to be fledgling versions of current virtual reality.

Developed in collaboration with Cheshire East Council as part of the SHIFT digital programme and Tatton Park, the project has received funding from The Art Fund’s Reimagine Grant.

In March 2022 we ran a week-long, residency programme for five UK based artists at Tatton Park, designed with the aim of developing their practice in XR (extended realities). During the week, the artists lived together and met with experts working in XR, alongside exploring the historic site and developing proposals for new works. You can read more about this residency over on our blog.

Although we had originally envisaged that the artist would each develop their own projects, they connected creatively during their residency, and are now working on the proposals for a large-scale, immersive artwork as a collective. This was a completely unforeseen outcome of the residency, and we’re really excited to see what they will develop during the Catalyst Labs.

Impossible Perspectives is an artist development programme with Tatton Park. Commissioned and produced by Abandon Normal Devices and Cheshire East Council as part of SHIFT. Supported by Art Fund and public funds from Arts Council England, with additional support from the Italian Cultural Institute in London.