The Rising Sun

The Rising Sun was an immersive light-responsive installation designed for Romford Town Centre by award-winning artist David Shearing.

Built in partnership with community groups, it shed new light on the identities of East London and Essex people and celebrated nightlife and pub culture.

Designed to represent a public house, the space offered a magical environment to reflect, host one-off events, and listen to the stories of the people of Romford.

The Rising Sun was funded by Arts Council England, Romford BID, and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. It was also supported by Havering Changing and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch. It was brought to Romford by Variable Matter, an artist-led practice working across design, art, intervention, performance, and product.

Established i2020 by award-winning artist David Shearing (link to davidshearing.com), the practice collaborates with world-leading individuals working across design, architecture, digital, policy, academia, and the community practice, to deliver perspective shifting event-based projects.

Their approach is simple, they place people at the heart of everything they do.

The Rising Sun was situated at the top end of the market for two weeks in July but can also be enjoyed via an online experience.

Take a moment out and listen… https://therisingsun.variablematter.com/sound-experience

Developed by Rabbit Hole. Music by James Bulley, Direction by David Shearing.