McNicholas and Barney Steel
Laser Forest

source: marshmallowlaserfeast

‘Forest’ is a large interactive musical laser installation. Commissioned by and premiered at the STRP Biennale in Eindhoven, this giant interactive forest covers almost 450 square meters and is composed of over 150 musical ‘trees’ made of rods and lasers. The audience can freely explore the space, physically tapping, shaking, plucking, and vibrating the trees to trigger sounds and lasers. Due to the natural springiness of the material, interacting with the trees causes them to swing and oscillate, creating vibrating patterns of light and sound. Each tree is tuned to a specific tone, creating harmonious sounds spatialized and played through a powerful surround sound setup.

The installation is designed to bring out in adults those feelings of curiousity and wonderment which are so alive and evident in children.

Forest exists as a tourable interactive installation, open to the public, and also a performance. The performance premiered at the STRP Biennale opening, consisting of 12 local children between the age of 8 and 12 years old. They were choreographed to move around the space, strumming and triggering the lasers and sounds.
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source: marshmallowlaserfeast

Marshmallow Laser Feast is a creative studio working at the intersection of art and technology. With over 20 years of industry experience between them, MLF was founded in 2011 by Memo Akten, Robin McNicholas and Barney Steel, each successful, multi-talented artists in their own right. As a group, MLF creates groundbreaking work of epic artistic proportions, consistently seeking collaborations across disciplines.

In 2012, MLF created two landmark productions. The first, “Meet Your Creator,” opened the 22nd Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors’ Showcase at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. MLF worked as creative and technical directors, and their theatrical performance became nothing short of a cultural landmark: sixteen illuminated, flying robot “quadrotors,” intricately choreographed to Oneohtrix Point Never musician Daniel Lopatin’s electronic soundtrack, reflected light beams on the stage to awe-inspiring effect.

MLF also designed and directed the video for McLaren’s P1 launch, in collaboration with photographer James Medcraft. Using long exposure photography, light painting, and animation, while being driven by real-life wind tunnel data and motion control rigs, MLF created a sexy, avant-garde interpretation of the car.

In just two years, MLF has earned a reputation for creating things that aren’t seemingly possible—for producing installations that push boundaries, redefine expectations and amaze audiences.