As Above
Drawing playful parallels between the garish and grotesque humour of the 16th century, and the absurdity of modern memes, this exhibition reveals the human impulse to use laughter to confront the unknown and urges us to reconsider what we know about the past.
So Below
Continuing the conversation between past and present, companion exhibition acts as a digital sibling, offering new perspective on the Prestongrange ceiling through video projections, holographic animation, and digital restoration.
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Located within the walls of Merchiston Tower, a medieval stronghold seldom seen by the public, lies the Prestongrange Ceiling, Scotland’s oldest surviving painted ceiling. To breathe life into this hidden gem, I helped create As Above, So Below, an interactive exhibition designed to bridge the gap between modern audiences and historic spaces.
The Concept: 16th-Century Grotesques meets 21st-Century Memes
The exhibition explored a fascinating cultural link: the parallels between the bizarre, garish humor of 1560s artwork and the absurdity of today’s meme culture. By highlighting how humans have always used laughter to navigate the unknown, the project invited visitors to view the past through a more relatable, human lens. We utilized a suite of high-tech interventions to tell this story, including:
3D Modeling & Digital Restoration: Bringing faded imagery back to its original vibrancy.
Holographic Animation: Adding a sense of depth and life to static history.
Video Projection Mapping: Transforming the physical architecture into a dynamic canvas.
My Role & Contribution
As a lead in the exhibition’s thematic development and installation, I was involved in the project’s evolution from initial concept to the final physical setup. My process included:
Deep Research: I began with an extensive study of archival sources to ensure the creative direction remained grounded in historical accuracy.
Creative Technical Design: I personally handled the digital restoration of the ceiling's unique creatures, scaling them up for large-format projections.
Interactive Design: I developed two distinct projection mapping sequences, including one integrated with an interactive control board to give visitors agency over the experience.
Project Management: Beyond the digital assets, I managed various room setups and smaller logistical tasks to ensure a cohesive visitor journey.
This exhibition was a multidisciplinary collaboration between MA graduates in Heritage & Exhibition Design and Interactive Experiences, blending academic rigor with cutting-edge technology.
