Rain Room @ Barbican – London

Designers or artists? Florian Ortkrass, founder of rAndom International still has some doubts about how to define its own collective even if his fellow partner Stuart Wood is convinced about the artistic dimension of their works. “Rain Room”, their latest interactive piece (“incubated” back in 2010) comes to London’s central Barbican centre for some wet & dray playfulness…

Their always flexible “Curve” gallery opens today the installation to the public for the next 5 months, a 100  square metre field of falling water through which it is possible to walk, trusting that a path can be navigated, without being drenched in the process.

As you progress through The Curve, the sound of water and a suggestion of moisture fill the air, before you are confronted by this carefully choreographed downpour that responds to your movements and presence. Everything millimetrically controlled by a series of cameras that 3D-map the location and movement of the bodies that walk on the plinth and allow their custom software to calculate and decide which outlets which allow the water out.

No magic needed, and in case you’re still doubting whether to give it a go or not, try watching the clip from The Guardian proving it really works. More info on the Barbican event website.