Joe GallopEvent décor and installation specialists Visual Architects has been recommissioned for services at From the Fields-promoted festival Kendal Calling (cap. 40,000), following its complete overhaul of the event this year.
Last summer saw Manchester-based Visual Architects create original, signature looks and concepts for nine open air arenas and large-scale indoor tents across the Kendal Calling site, including photo opportunities and signage landmarks, workshops and cinema entertainment.
Transformations included the Kendal main stage with a Lost Temple theme, which included large faux stone relics framing the stage, fabricated by Visual Architects on a 7-axis robot. The complete interior was overgrown with vines, flowers, tropical foliage and carved relic light boxes.
One of the festival’s core stages was transformed with a new interpretation of the Alice In Wonderland story. In addition to a canopy of patterned Lycra hexagons, inflatable flowers, dice, clocks, spirals and mushrooms, a bespoke ‘looking glass’ installation made its debut on the stage with custom visual mapping, integrating movie animation with creative visuals.
The next edition of the festival will take place at Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District from 27-30 July, with the lineup yet to be announced.
Kendal Calling and From The Fields’ creative producer Cathryn Peach-Barnes said, “It was a great team experience to work so collaboratively with people who have a brilliant vision for what they want to do, but who are happy to work with our own vision; we found this lovely meeting point in the middle. On top of this, they are super well organised and communicative people who were great at project management which made my life so much easier.”
Visual Architects CEO and creative director Lefteris Angelidis said, “Partnering with the festival on its 2022 creative journey was an incredible experience for both parties. Kendal showed complete trust in our creative abilities, allowing us creative freedom to produce something truly magical. Having worked so closely together last year and learning the festival’s ins and outs, we feel we have a better understanding of the company’s artistic visions, and we can’t wait to represent this in our décor next year.”