random international: rain room at barbican

in this commission, contemporary art studio random international invites visitors to experience what it’s like to control the rain. you can choose to simply watch the spectacle or find their way carefully through the rain, putting their trust in the work to the test. more than the technical virtuosity necessary for its success, the piece relies on a sculptural rigour, with the entire curve transformed by the monumental proportions of this carefully choreographed downpour and the sound of water. the piece will play host to performances choreographed by wayne mcgregor, with music scored by max richter, to be premiered during the frieze art fair.

the piece will play host to performances choreographed by wayne mcgregor, with music scored by max richterimage © felix clay (also main image)

random international’s rain room is controlled by a series of cameras that 3D-map the location of bodies on the plinth, translating this to a pixelated grid of 25cm x 25cm panels, each of which controls nine outlets and a total of 2,500 litres of water, falling at a rate of 1,000 litres per minute, which is filtered, treated and recycled. the rain room takes art lovers on a journey through a dark corridor surrounded by the sound of drumming rain, into a brightly lit rectangle and when people step in it, water halts overhead, but keeping them dry wherever they are moving/standing.

participants miraculously do not get wet when entering the rain image © felix clay

the rain room is controlled by a series of cameras that 3D-map the location of bodies on the plinth image courtesy rAndom international

‘people going in tentatively at first, whether you know it or not, every day you play the part of audience and performer. in this installation people like to experiment and play with it, to push its boundaries and see if they can get wet.’ says artists hannes koch.

2,500 litres of water, falling at a rate of 1,000 litres per minute, which is then filtered, treated and recycled image © felix clay

a pixelated grid of 25cm x 25cm panels controls nine outlets of water image © felix clay

image © felix clay

participants experiencing the sound of rain, without getting wet image © felix clay

the rain room takes art lovers on a journey through a dark corridor surrounded by the sound of drumming rain image © felix clay

the latticed structure from which the water falls image © felix clay