Microworld Exhibition at the Herbert a labour of love for Creative Media team

10 December 2024

The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum is thrilled to have welcomed a new immersive digital art exhibition, Microworld, which combines art, technology, and creativity to transport visitors into an interactive landscape. 

This ambitious exhibition took weeks of hard work to set up, with CV Life’s AV Technician Thom Walker playing a central role in bringing the project to life.

Thom joined the organisation’s Creative Media team in April 2023. With a background in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins, Thom has a special focus on film and moving-image installations. “My role is to support teams with AV needs, but I always try to bring a bit of creativity to what I do,” he says. “I see my role as finding ways to add value or reduce stress for my colleagues, which makes projects like Microworld especially rewarding.”

For Microworld, Thom worked closely with Exhibition Manager Dominic Bubb, external technicians, and the wider exhibitions team. He supported planning, sourced equipment, and helped oversee the build. “Lighting was a key part of the installation,” Thom explains. “As the artworks are wall-based, we used lighting to create texture in the space. The moving heads, which project microbiologically inspired patterns across the room, have been particularly successful. It’s great to see them enhancing the experience for visitors.”

One highlight of the project was the collaboration with a highly skilled external technical team. “Working alongside them was my favourite part,” Thom recalls. “Their expertise in equipment and software was invaluable, and I’ve learned so much that I can apply to future projects. I’ve also developed some new connections within the AV industry, which I believe will lead to exciting opportunities down the line.”

Though Thom has been singled out by management for his efforts, he is keen to also highlight and praise the teamwork and problem-solving shown by all involved throughout the project. “We faced a few manufacturing faults, but the external team’s resourcefulness was incredible. Watching them resolve these issues with experience and lateral thinking was inspiring. There are things I’d do differently next time, but that’s all part of learning and growing.”

Kerrie Suteu, Head of Creative Media, said: "No two exhibitions are the same and it takes someone with a love of creative problem solving to run with this. Thom has that love in abundance.  A real care of what the visitor experience will be is an attitude he's brought to the team that's truly infectious."

Looking ahead Thom hopes the skills he’s picked up from the exhibition will be utilised elsewhere. He said: “This project has been a fantastic learning experience, and I’m excited to see how we can continue to push boundaries.”

Microworld is open now - don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in this unique exhibition while you can!