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The Hot House Laboratory
The Hothouse Laboratory. Photo Credit: Sandra Ebert

The Hothouse Laboratory

part of Summer at Watershed

Immersive Exhibition

Thu 7 Aug - Mon 1 Sept

Undershed

Enter the abandoned Hothouse Laboratory - full of friendly giant plants, light, sound and a lot of mystery.

This summer show brings one of Bristol's favourites - Air Giants – into Undershed with their giant robotic inflatables taking over the whole space, and a strange story to invent and discover for everyone stepping through the door.

Enter the Hothouse Laboratory

Nobody really knows where they came from – these giant colourful plants that move and glow in response to human touch. In the middle of this deserted laboratory, the plants flex and wriggle – with peculiar sounds floating around the room and lights flickering.   

Bits and pieces of evidence are to be found – left over from the investigations carried out by vanished humans who no longer occupy the laboratory. A desk is stacked with old papers, microscopes show strange plant matter and machines for measuring unknown frequencies lie around. 

You are invited to investigate the plants and decide for yourself – what are these things? Are they alive – and friendly? Where did they come from – and why is this laboratory now deserted? 

The Hothouse Laboratory transforms Undershed into an imaginative, immersive space to explore and play – and is designed for children aged 2 to 102.  

"In a world dominated by screens, we're excited about making work that allows touch and offers real physical interaction. Adding layers of light and sound to build an intriguing story world for audiences to discover..." 

- Emma Powell, Creative Director, AirGiants 

Two young children are cuddling inflatable lit up plants. Credit: Sandra Ebert
Two children happily squeeze a big blue lit up inflatable thing. Credit: Tom Heuijerjans
A young child in a red dress and ponytails is cuddling a large inflatable lit up plant. Credit: Sandra Ebert

This experience is suitable for all ages, however, children should be supervised at all times.

What you can expect

Inside the gallery you will find large interactive plant sculptures standing 2m tall. Inflatable structures with integrated robotic technology and light, these plants move and respond to your touch. Cuddling is welcome.   

You are invited to explore the sculptures in their new habitat – this is an immersive scene in which you investigate the plants and decide for yourself where they’ve come from and what their personalities are like.  

Simple activities (including making models of the plants and deciding what you think their origins and characteristics might be) invite you to play and tell stories.

This is not an experience facilitated by play workers – this is a space for children and adults to come and play together in response to the interactive sculptures, a set of prompts and an immersive environment.

You can enjoy the space for the 1.5/2-hour length sessions, but we estimate 30-45 mins will be enough time to enjoy the space and activities. 

Inside the V & A Museum with some big inflatable glow up plants.

About the artists

Air Giants is a Bristol-based creative studio making huge, joyful robots and powerful immersive experiences. Air Giants is Emma Powell (creative director and designer), Robert Nixdorf (director of robotics), and Richard Sewell (director of pneumatics). This exhibition brings together the brilliant Air Giants with a team of bespoke sound and light artists.

They are technological pioneers, using cutting-edge approaches alongside traditional hand-crafting techniques to bring creatures of the imagination into the everyday. Their works have appeared in places such as Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam, Tai Kwun Art Centre in Hong Kong, Playable City Showcase in Bristol, the British Library, V&A Museum in London and King’s College London’s Science Gallery. 

Chu-Li Shewring is a filmmaker, sound designer and sound artist. Her most recent work, Termites Speaking in Tongues, is a 10.1 channel sound installation of fantasies on infestations of fictional insect, creature and humanoid colonies within the walls and ceiling of the Cinema Tower at the Museum of Modern Art Warsaw. She has collaborated with artist filmmakers including Anagram, Siobhan Davies, Jeremy Deller, Beatrice Gibson, Steve McQueen, Ben Rivers, Frances Scott, and Aura Satz, and has been awarded at Sheffield DocFest 2022, and received the Jules Wright Prize at the Jarman Award 2017. 

Harriet Wallis is an architectural lighting designer who experiments with natural materials and diffusers. Her work responds to nature and landscape. Key collaborators include Greenpeace at Glastonbury, Jony Easterby and Liam Walsh. 

More Information

Tickets are priced on a sliding scale from £2 to £12 per person, based on a pay-what-you-can model:

  • £12 – Pay-it-forward: For those who are able and wish to help subsidise others’ tickets.
  • £8 – Rate 1: You are comfortably able to meet all your basic needs and have expendable income.
  • £4 – Rate 2: You can meet most basic needs, are employed, and have some expendable income.
  • £2 – Rate 3: You often worry about meeting basic needs, are unemployed or underemployed, qualify for government or voluntary support, and have little or no expendable income.

Companion tickets are available for those on our access register. See Access at Undershed for details. 

We recommend you book tickets for the Hothouse Laboratory in advance online, in person at Box Office or by phone on 0117 927 5100.  

Your ticket gives you access to the timed session you have booked for. It will show you the start and end time of your session. You are welcome to arrive at any point within this period but we recommend you arrive at least half an hour before the end to give you time for the whole experience (the piece runs as a continuous loop). 

There is a maximum capacity of 16 in the Gallery at any one time.

You can find out more information about Access at Undershed here. If we can do anything to make your visit to Undershed easier, please get in touch with us - just email communications@watershed.co.uk and we'll be happy to help.

FAQs

Undershed is open

  • Mon: 12:30 - 17:30 (including bank holiday Mon) 

  • Tue, Wed: 10:00 - 17:30 

  • Thu: 10:00 - 19:00 

  • Fri, Sat: 10:00 - 21:00 

  • Sun: 10:00 - 17:30 

Booking a ticket for a session gives more than enough time to enjoy the artwork.

There is a maximum capacity of 16 in the Gallery at any one time. If we are full you may be asked to wait a little in the welcome area until there is space. A Gallery Assistant will let you know when you can enter. 

Capacities for our Relaxed, Masked and Socially Distanced Visits are reduced. Read about their capacities and details on our Access page. 

There is no official age restriction, but this is a family show with a reading age of 8 for activities. All children under 16 should be accompanied by an adult/guardian. While there are no intense strobe effects, the changing light from the screens can feel pronounced in a darkened space, and some moments in the music include sudden louder sounds. 

Your ticket gives you access for the entire session you have booked - it will show you the start and end time of your session.  

You can enjoy the space for 1.5-2-hour length sessions, but we estimate 30-45 mins will be enough time to enjoy the space and activities.

You can come and go as many times as you like, for as long as you like, during your booked session (space permitting).  

If you have booked a Relaxed Visit, Masked and Socially Distanced Visit please arrive at your session’s start time as these are all one-hour sessions with reduced capacity. 

This installation is designed to be as accessible as possible for audiences including wheelchair users. If you would like more space to manoeuvre, you are welcome to book into one of our relaxed, masked or socially distanced visits which have less people attending.

For those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, there is a written and BSL description of the soundscape available. These will be made available on the Access at Undershed page or as a printout. Ask our Gallery Assistants for a copy. 

For those who are partially-sighted or blind, there is audio description available. There will be an introduction made available online, which sets a context for the piece. A specific audio description for the artwork will be available in the gallery space. Ask our Gallery Assistants for access. 

If we can do anything to make your visit to Undershed easier, please get in touch at communications@watershed.co.uk, we'll be happy to help. 

For more details on accessibility visit the Access at Undershed page. 

The Hothouse Laboratory contains no flashing lights and shouldn’t be triggering to those with photosensitive epilepsy. The environment will be lit by coloured lights which will move and alter throughout the experience.  

The Hothouse Laboratory is already designed to be accessible and gentle as a sensory experience.  

Relaxed Visits are less populated to allow more space for people with sensory sensitivities to explore the space more easily. Lights will be slightly brighter where needed, and the audio will be slightly quieter.  

See our Access at Undershed page for a list of relaxed visits.  

If you would like a tour to familiarise yourself with the environment, then please contact us to arrange this. Undershed@watershed.co.uk  

To keep up to date with Watershed's accessible events please sign up to our Accessible Mailing List. You can also let us know about your access requirements by signing up to our Access Register. 

What to expect during a Relaxed Visit to Undershed: 

  • Maximum of 12 people will be in the space at any one time in the 2-hour period, but we estimate it will be around 6-8 people.

  • Gallery Assistants will have more time to spend with you if you need them and explain what to expect. 

  • More seating options for you to rest and relax. 

  • The welcome space is a quiet space where you can chill out if you need it. 

  • These sessions are two hours long, you can arrive at any time within this period, and probably want 30-45 minutes to enjoy the experience.

Yes, we have programmed various Masked and Socially Distanced slots. 

See our Access at Undershed page for a list of these specific slots. 

To be kept informed about Masked and Socially Distanced slots and other accessible events please sign up to our Accessible Mailing List. You can also let us know about your access requirements by signing up to our Access Register. 

What to expect during a Masked and Socially Distanced Visit (MSD):

  • Maximum of 10 people will be in the space at any one time in the 2 hour period, but we estimate it will be around 4-5 people.

  • Our Gallery Assistants will also be wearing masks. 

  • Gallery Assistants will have more time to spend with you if you need them and will explain what to do next.

  • More seating options will be available for you to rest and relax. 

  • These events are open to everyone, but are part of our offer for audiences and customers who would rather they had more space and less people in the exhibition. 

  • As these are masked visits, wearing a face covering is mandatory throughout your visit if you're not exempt. 

  • These sessions are two hours long, you can arrive at any time within this period, and probably want 30-45 minutes to enjoy the experience.

Yes, we welcome resting at any point while you’re in Undershed. You can explore the space in whatever way suits you: walk, sit, stand, or lie down. There is seating in both the welcome area and in the exhibition space. There are also yoga mats and blankets if you need to lie down at any point - please speak to a Gallery Assistant if so. 

Yes, the Hothouse Laboratory is a family friendly exhibition and people of all ages are very welcome. All children should be always accompanied by an adult. 

You can attend any session, but we also have Gallery Babies sessions available for those who would like more space and would like a specific baby-friendly environment.   

See our Access at Undershed page for a list of these specific slots. 

There is no buggy parking so you are welcome to bring it in with you. 

You can breastfeed anywhere at Watershed, but if you would like privacy please speak to a Gallery Assistant about which rooms/spaces may be available to use. Please note, we’re unable to guarantee a dedicated private space, as Watershed is a busy open plan building. 

We have changing facilities in male, female and gender-neutral toilets, and in both accessible toilets. 

Yes, in the welcome area of Undershed there are spaces to leave your belongings while you are inside the exhibition. A Gallery Assistant will be in this area at all times. 

If you’ve booked an accessible session, please try to arrive at your session's start time as these are all 45 minute sessions with reduced capacity. For all other bookings, your ticket gives you access for the entire session you have booked - it will show you the start and end time of your session. You are welcome to arrive at any point within this period but we recommend you arrive at least half an hour before the end to give you time for the whole experience (the piece runs as a continuous loop). 

Yes - but please do not take or share images of people without permission whilst they are participating in the work. 

No - but the Café & Bar is on the first floor for refreshments before and after your visit to Undershed. Our Undershed Bar is our outside bar on the Harbourside walkway (just next door to our main entrance) where we serve our Café & Bar menu as well as hot and cold drinks, beers and wines, and ice cream nachos.

Open from midday Thu - Sun.

Yes. You are welcome to use any of the toilet facilities in Watershed then come back into the space. 

We have changing facilities in male, female and gender-neutral toilets, and in both accessible toilets. 

We aim to produce regular themed and curated shows, plus a series of takeovers and showcases. We are currently accepting submissions for immersive artwork around the theme of HOME. You can find more about this call here. If you would like the Undershed curatorial team to consider your work outside of these themes, please fill out this form. 

Undershed is new space for us and we're excited to welcome you to it. We know there will be things we can improve on and adapt. Please send us your thoughts and any outstanding questions you have - email us on communications@watershed.co.uk or have a chat with one of our Gallery Assistants. 

Visiting Undershed for the first time

Undershed Gallery is located on the ground floor of Watershed – the entrance is to the right of the Box Office desk. If you haven't visited Watershed before, check out our Visit page for access, location and transport information.

Four people take part in an immersive experience, they are wearing headphones and painting with watercolours.

Credit: Paul Blakemore

What is Undershed?

Undershed is a new gallery for showing the best immersive and interactive artwork from all over the world. The first of its kind in Bristol and rare across the UK – this dedicated space will stage themed exhibitions that change every few months.

Undershed is a place to come together and experiment with new forms of storytelling. Come on in, keep an open mind and tell us what you think.

Undershed Immersive Gallery is funded by

BFI The National Lottery
Arts Council England
Bristol and Bath Creative R&D
MyWorld

With thanks to our sponsor Redcliffe Imaging 

Book now

Or call Box Office: 0117 927 5100

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