25 meter waterscreen floating on Hilsea Moat!

Forged in Water is an audio-visual installation that explores the surreal world of artificial reefs. Holographic-style visuals depicting human-made structures beneath the ocean are revealed on transparent, airborne water particles, creating an ethereal and immersive display.

Created by Limbic Cinema in collaboration with music artist Phoebé Guillemot (aka RAMZi), the project brings otherworldly seascapes to life through sound design, music, and projected animation.

The project explores intentional and unintentional reefs found along coasts and seabeds worldwide. From 17th-century kelp forests grown on boulders in Japan to World War II tanks off the coast of Hampshire, and modern offshore oil rigs in California, human-made objects are abundant beneath the surface. These structures become habitats for marine life and raise questions about their impact and significance.

Human-made ruins beneath the sea are signatures of the Anthropocene, marking intervals in the timeline of human civilisation. They tell stories of exploration, technological advancement, war, and the over-mining of Earth’s resources, but they also show how human intervention can be positive and restorative.

Artist Bio:

Limbic Cinema
Limbic Cinema is an award-winning multimedia creative studio based in Bristol. Utilising cutting edge tools and immersive technology to transform spaces and transport audiences.

The studio creates mesmerising, meaningful and memorable encounters that empower people through the use of light, sound and moving image.

Recent work featured at Canary Wharf Winter Lights, London (2024), Video Mapping Festival, Lille (2023), Spectra, Aberdeen (2023), Geiranger Light Art Festival, Norway (2022), Vivid Sydney (2019).

Phoebé Guillemot
Phoebé Guillemot is an artist based in Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang/Montréal. Her solo music project RAMZi, merges soundscapes, electronic, acoustic instruments, processed voices and visual works. Over the release of 14 albums since 2013, RAMZi evolved as a fictional character, taking shape as an animal-spirit from the forest, guardian of a parallel ecosystem emerging from the interplay of nature and technology, nostalgia and futurism, and a musical fusion of genres. Phoebé performed live and as a Dj in festivals and clubs all over Europe, as well as in Australia, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Morocco, Japan and Brazil. RAMZi was released on Total Stasis (LA), Mood Hut (Vancouver), RVNG (NY), 12th Isle (Glasgow) and Music From Memory (Netherlands). Her 2 last LPs Feu Follets and Moon Tan were released on her label FATi Records founded in 2018.

Mentorship
Alongside creating Forged in Water Limbic Cinema will be delivering a creative projection masterclass and mentorship programme with local students.

Following the masterclass taking place at Centre for Creative and Immersive Extended Reality (CCIXR) students will have the opportunity to create their own animation content specifically designed to work on a water screen.

The mentorship will culminate in the students work being displayed alongside Limbic Cinema’s projections, on the large-scale water screen opposite the Hilsea Lido.

Music for the student’s project has been developed in partnership with Portsmouth City Council’s Rantstudio. Paul Weston from Rantstudio has mentored a young local user Cameron Kirby aka (VESPER) to produce the soundtrack with additional mentorship from Phoebe Guillemot composer and DJ from Montréal. Cameron aka (VESPER) is an aspiring electronic music producer who is learning his craft and wants to produce music that speaks to people of all generations with a positive vibe and make people dance. Rantstudio is part of Portsmouth City Council’s Play, Youth and Community service, which offers five free youth clubs for young people in the city.