“Bring to Light” is a three-piece installation for the proposed heritage centre at the 18th century site of South Presentation Convent . The installation’s core themes focus on the personal, cultural and global impact of the convent’s founder Nano Nagle. To enhance their experience and get full benefit of the museum the user is free to interact and uncover hidden content in each installation in a non-linear fashion (i.e. The sub-installations can be experienced in any order). Each is designed to be optional and the technical functionality is aimed to instill wonder and create the impression of magical reality for the user, a common technique used in Interaction Design. The project consists of a text-based installation, a video installation and a map installation. The content is presented to the user through different mediums of light. Light plays a symbolic role in the story of Nano, as she herself was known as the lady of the lantern. Research was conducted regarding various light sources and triggers. Inspiration was found in Ecco Luce, an animated light emitting wallpaper.

 

The map installation is to represent the global affect of Nano Nagle’s life. The trigger for this installation is embedded into a lantern. When the lantern dial is turned and the flame goes out, the lights embedded in the map gradually turn on, revealing how even though she passed away (1784), Nano Nagle’s legacy lives on in Presentation Sister Convents that were established throughout the world. The desired effect would be that the light would begin in Ireland and spread out resembling natural growth, to all the locations of South Presentation Convents across the globe. The result would display a spider-web-like network.

 

The text based installation focuses on the local aspect of Nano Nagle’s life. It is triggered unobtrusively and is to be experienced not by the person who triggered it but by another visitor who in a separate room viewing seemingly illegible stained glass letters. It reveals words from this wall by illuminating the relevant letters. These words relate to the content that is read by the visitor who triggered the interaction.

The personal aspects of Nano’s life are to be depicted in the video installation. There are four scenes to be displayed, depicting glimpses into Nano Nagle’s life, similar to a flash back. These flashbacks are revealed once the dial illuminates the lantern flame.