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Surrey rec centre wall turned into giant arcade game

Digital art display projected on Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre; opening reception Friday.
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A digital display called Fictional Façade

Colourful abstract geometric shapes and patterns bounce off the window perimeters and explore the outside surface of the Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre, appearing to get stuck where there is no space available to let them out.

The digital artwork display, called Fiction Façade, is activated by movement in front of the Surrey Urban Screen, and projected on the side of the recreation centre.

Created by Urban Visuals team (Konstantinos Mavromichalis & Nathan Whitford), the artwork animates sequences that recall arcade games like pinball.

“It is reminiscent of early video games, with a kind of retro-futurism,” say the artists. “It is meant to addresses the site using the physical attributes of the façade itself, drawing attention to the interaction of digital media and architectural form.”

Fiction Façade also comes with accompanying sounds informed by older console-based 8 bit video games. Sounds are generated by collisions between the projected virtual objects seen in the animation and the physical objects such as the windows and borders of the building. Visitors can tune in to listen on their MP3 player or car stereo when in front of the artwork.

The exhibition officially launches with an opening reception Friday (Sept. 30) at 7:30 p.m. The artists will be in attendance, and there will be refreshments and popcorn. The event is free, and everyone is welcome. Fiction Façade continues until Nov. 13.

The Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre is at 13458 107A Ave. Exhibitions begin 30 minutes after sundown, and end at midnight.

Check www.surreyurbanscreen.ca for more information.