Studio Above&Below is a London based art and technology practice founded by Daria Jelonek (GER) and Perry-James Sugden (UK) after graduating from the Royal College of Art. Digital Democracies connects three UK-based commissioning festivals, Frequency International Festival of Digital Culture (Produced by Threshold Studios), Freedom Festival (Produced by Freedom Festival Arts Trust) and Brighton Digital Festival (Directed by Lighthouse) to explore the intersection of technology, art and public space. The development of the work is supported by Digital Democracies, a two-year programme led by Threshold Studios and supported by Arts Council England.

They use speculative storytelling and digital art to highlight the hidden connections between humans, machines and the environment – like air pollution.ĭigital Atmosphere is the result of Studio Above&Below’s latest 12-month research and development commission by Broadway’s Near Now Fellowship programme in Nottingham, UK. This data is then translated by the artists into an evocative audio-visual simulation, visible only via a VR headset.ĭigital Atmosphere is part of Studio Above&Below’s ongoing series of artworks that use live data, VR and Augmented Reality to create living, breathing and reactive virtual sculptures. It has an Atmo Sensor which picks up the invisible changes in the air quality around it. The sculpture is inspired by investigations into early air pollution devices, from the canary in the mine onwards. At a time when air safety is at the front and centre, this Mixed Reality sculpture uses cutting-edge technology to show us what we’re breathing.

The quality of our air is invisible to the naked eye, but not to our lungs. Digital Atmosphere – Studio Above&Below Date: Friday 29 – Saturday 30 October Time: 12-8pm Location: E xchange Square, Cornhill Quarter

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