“Magical” is how one local resident described the feeling of being here at the Tunnel Vision Sculpture. Today, we will delve into the story behind this captivating fusion of art and architecture.
Tunnel Vision is not just a sculpture. It is an experience. The original Tunnel Vision was a collaboration between Luke Jerram and composer Dan Jones for Brunel200.
That installation took place in a disused railway tunnel in Staple Hill, Bristol. It was half a kilometer long. The artwork combined architecture, candlelight, and surround sound. Over 500 candles illuminated the tunnel at night. Speakers mounted in the ceiling created an immersive soundscape.
The aim was to evoke the feelings of worry and problem-solving experienced by Brunel. This was in relation to his failing Atmospheric Railway project. The industrial atmosphere combined sound and music to create a beautiful sense of loss. Visitors felt as though trains were moving along the disused railway track.
One 70-year-old visitor said it gave her “the colly wobbles”. A seven-year-old girl felt like she was inside a picture when she reached the tunnel’s end.
The Atmospheric Railway inspired Tunnel Vision. Isambard Kingdom Brunel developed this new type of train. It was tested in the South West of England. Trains were sucked along by vacuum. A long pipe between the tracks created the vacuum. The project failed for several reasons. Rats ate the leather seal on the airtight pipe. Trains broke down, requiring horses to pull the carriages.
Brunel faced fear of failure and financial ruin. The stress and worry of the Atmospheric Railway and his ship, The Great Eastern, led to his premature death at 53.
The original Tunnel Vision installation was a great success with 4400 visitors over seven nights. Many people came by chance, drawn by the sight of others walking toward the artwork at dusk. Word spread throughout the local community, crossing social boundaries. Some families returned night after night. Over 1000 people attended on a Saturday evening.
Other iterations of Tunnel Vision have appeared in London. In May 2009, Tunnel Vision was exhibited at 213 Blenheim Grove in London. Entrance was either through an arch or through Bar Story. The exhibition ran from May 22 to May 25. It was open from 12 PM to 5 PM. Entry was free.
Another Tunnel Vision event took place in February 2012 at 7 Roach Road, Fish Island, London. It was open Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 6 PM. On Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, it was open from 8:30 AM to 10 PM. Entry was free.
In 2018, Beech Street tunnel was transformed into a light and sound installation called Tunnel Visions: Array. Digital projections transformed the tunnel into a visual representation of music. Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Karawane, recorded by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, provided the soundtrack. Vivid colours and images flickered across the walls. This re-shaped the tunnel’s interior as people moved through the space. 59 Productions, who also worked at the Edinburgh Festival, Sydney Opera House, and the London 2012 Olympics, created it.
Tunnel Vision offers a unique glimpse into the past and a celebration of art. It reminds us of the power of imagination and the beauty of collaboration.