UK-based show design studio NEWSUBSTANCE makes its debut at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music & Art Festival with Spectra – a stunning, 7 floor pavilion.
Commissioned by Coachella as part of its over-arching art program, NEWSUBSTANCE is one of 6 distinguished interdisciplinary artists chosen by Coachella to create new, brave and innovative original large-scale installations exclusively for the Festival. Over 3 years in its conception and design, Spectra is an ambitious, architecturally informed installation featuring a spiral design, an observation deck at its peak, air conditioning and a dazzling colour scheme that reflects the lively spirit of the festival and its awe-inspiring location.
“When creating Spectra we wanted it to be less about the structure itself and more about the journey within it,” said NEWSUBSTANCE’s Creative Director Patrick O’Mahony. “Once inside you will be encapsulated within a Coachella Sunrise. Colour is often something only observed but with this piece we wanted the audience to be washed with rich reds, sky blues and hot pinks as they journey to new heights and experience a truly unique view of the festival.”
“Spectra is a bold commission by the festival and one we are super excited by,” said Paul Clemente, Art Director at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. “We were immediately drawn to the notion of offering festivalgoers a unique lookout across the festival site bathed in a rich interplay of color and light. Working closely alongside NEWSUBSTANCE it was immediately clear they understood the Coachella vernacular, bringing a fresh take on our environment and we are delighted to welcome them to this year’s festival.”
Spectra took festivalgoers on a transitional experience as they travel through the installation. No one experience was the same as attendees were challenged to see things differently, washing over their outlook in a magnificent spectrum of colours and compelling them to pause and see the festival’s landscape in a totally new and unexpected way. With a tremendous amount of varying views and colors, every viewers experience will vary.
When creating the piece, NEWSUBSTANCE wanted to explore the relationship between the light and landscape of the festival, the shifting environment that this creates and how it influences those that journey through it. The festival is enriched by beautiful sunrises and sunsets that roll across the landscape, and it is these iconic explosions of colour it wanted to capture in the design. From running through the burning reds of the morning sunrise to a gentle sunset stroll bathed in rich purples and blues as they ascend the pavilion of light, Spectra purposely propels people into a technicolour haven.
The positioning of Spectra on the site was key. NEWSUBSTANCE wanted it to act as a beacon of light that draws people in from day to night. At certain times it will perfectly blend with the natural colours of the Coachella sky, and at others, it will be a wonderfully stark contrast. As people venture into the temple of tranquillity, they will find peace and serenity from the buzz of the festival. As they ascend through Spectra’s tower of colour, they will be rewarded with never before seen views – a new way of seeing things and a new way of experiencing the festival.
