Case study · United Kingdom · Leicester
A light sculpture that tells its own story
out loud.
Emergence — the immersive piece by This is Loop commissioned by BID Leicester — pairs its 10,000-LED spectacle with a NaviLens-enabled panel: any visitor can hear the concept, the credits for the NYX drone choir and the accessibility information in their own language.
Leicester
The Circle · bottom of New Walk · LE1 6RU
13–23 Dec 2023
12:00–22:00 · illuminated from 16:00
10,000+ LEDs
Inside mirrored tunnel alcoves (3 × 10 m)
42
Languages read aloud via NaviLens
The client
This is Loop
— with BID Leicester
This is Loop is a British art and architecture studio specialised in large-scale immersive installations. Emergence is the piece commissioned by BID Leicester for the 2023 Christmas programme at The Circle, at the bottom of New Walk (LE1 6RU).
The artwork measures 3 × 10 metres and combines over 10,000 LEDs arranged inside fully mirrored tunnel alcoves. It works as a sanctum: from the inside it reads as a sphere of light; from a distance, as a giant grid. The soundtrack is by the electronic drone choir NYX.
The installation was part of the BID's festive programme alongside the ice rink, the Wheel of Light and the funfair. NaviLens let that experience reach blind, low-vision and print-disabled visitors too, without needing to ask for help.
§ The challenge
Let the artwork explain itself to anyone.
- 01
An artwork that explains itself
Emergence is an immersive sanctum of mirrored cubes with over 10,000 LEDs and a soundtrack by the NYX electronic drone choir. Without an accessible text, its concept — the interplay between order and chaos — was reserved for those who could read the printed panel.
- 02
Reaching blind and low-vision audiences too
Leicester's Christmas festival (BID Leicester) draws thousands of people around the ice rink, the wheel and the artwork itself. Every visitor — including blind, low-vision and print-disabled audiences — needed to experience the piece independently.
- 03
Meeting BID's accessibility commitments
The panel already advertised a Hearing Loop for hearing-aid users. What was missing was the visual and assisted-reading layer: the concept read aloud, the artistic credits, the collaboration with NYX and the BID Leicester sponsorship mention.
§ The solution
A code next to the curatorial panel.
The artwork's panel embeds the This is Loop NaviLens code at the bottom of the sign, aligned with the Instagram QR (@this_is_loop) and the Hearing Loop icon for hearing aids.
With the NaviLens GO app, visitors point their phone from several metres away and hear the artistic statement, the NYX choir credits and the BID Leicester mention in any of the 42 supported languages.
§ Timeline
From concept to accessible panel.
- Concept
Emergence by This is Loop
Studio This is Loop designs a 3 × 10 m sculpture with mirrored cubes and over 10,000 LEDs that shift from blue to magenta. The interior acts as a sanctum where the visitor explores the interplay between order and chaos.
- Deployment
13–23 December 2023 · The Circle, Leicester
BID Leicester installs the artwork at the bottom of New Walk as part of the Christmas festivities, alongside the ice rink, the wheel and the funfair. Open to the public from 12:00 to 22:00, illuminated from 16:00.
- Accessibility
Panel with NaviLens code + Hearing Loop
The artwork's information panel embeds the This is Loop NaviLens code alongside the @this_is_loop QR and the Hearing Loop icon. With NaviLens GO, any visitor can hear the artistic statement and the NYX choir credits in their own language.
§ Walkthrough
From the panel to the interior of the work.
Panel
«Emergence by This is Loop» panel
The official artwork panel, installed next to the Emergence perimeter, carries at its base the This is Loop NaviLens code, the @this_is_loop QR and the Hearing Loop pictogram. Any visitor with the NaviLens GO app hears the curatorial text («Emergence is a sanctum within which to consider the dynamic interplay between order and chaos…») and the NYX choir credits.
Context
Panel next to the mirrored cube installation
The panel sits in front of the sculpture itself. Whoever scans the code doesn't just get the text: they're already physically in front of the mirrored cubes, combining the app's voice with the tactile and sonic experience of the work.
Artwork
Mirrored cubes with blue LEDs
View of Emergence lit in blue: three-storey mirrored cubes reflecting passers-by and the building behind, at The Circle. Over 10,000 LEDs configure 'tunnel alcoves' that change appearance depending on the angle.
Audience
Visitors walking around the piece
Visitors approach Emergence at dusk. The work is a collective immersive experience: the NaviLens code on the panel ensures that reading the concept doesn't depend on being able to read the printed sign.
Atmosphere
Cubes in blue and magenta
Front view of the central cubes shifting from blue to magenta. The artwork forms a sphere of light up close and a giant mosaic from afar: two different experiences within the same sculpture.
Setting
The Circle, bottom of New Walk
Wide view of Emergence within the urban setting of Leicester (LE1 6RU), with the building behind. It's part of BID Leicester's Christmas programme together with the ice rink, the Wheel of Light and the funfair.
§ Results
An immersive experience for everyone.
Art + voice
The curatorial statement reaches blind and low-vision audiences
Long-range scan
The code is read from several metres, off-axis and in low light
BID Leicester
A truly inclusive Christmas piece at the heart of the city
§ What they said
“Emergence makes its much-anticipated debut from 13 – 23 December at The Circle (bottom of New Walk). Spanning three by ten metres, Emergence features over 10,000 LED lights intricately arranged within mirrored tunnel alcoves, creating a captivating visual experience.”
“A large-scale immersive light installation is coming to Leicester as part of the city's festive celebrations. The artwork features more than 10,000 LED lights arranged within mirrored tunnel alcoves.”
“Leicester will sparkle even brighter this year with large-scale immersive artwork 'Emergence'. This is Loop collaborated with the incredible 'NYX: Electronic Drone Choir' to create the audio track for Emergence.”
“The relationship began with the large-scale audio-visual sculpture 'Emergence' that was a LIT Lighting Awards winner in the Light Art category, as well as being shortlisted for a prestigious CODAaward.”
§ And your destination?
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