YOU:MATTER gallery map and guide

Download a sensory map or read the text version below.

Gallery layout

The exhibition entrance is through double automatic doors opposite the lift exit, or along the left-hand side of the level 1 landing if coming up the stairs.
Each section leads on from the previous in a clockwise loop, and the entrance doors are also the exit doors.
The experience is made up of a series of nine interconnected sections, there are no dividing doors and walkways are all 1.5 meters wide or more.
There is ambient sound throughout the space and several areas with voiceover. The light levels are low throughout the gallery.

The first space consists of a large artists’ statement text introducing the experience on the wall facing you as you enter. A queueing area and a ticket desk are to the left.
After the ticket desk, there is a map of the exhibition on the wall to your left. There is a text panel introduction to the second section on this wall too.

The second section is a projection of a digital video artwork onto a wall facing you as you enter.
The floor is a reflective surface, and there is a soundtrack with a voiceover. There is low-level lighting.
There are frosted walkways or darker areas to walk across the reflective floors.
The exit to this section is to the right of the entrance, along the right-hand wall.

Entering the third section, there is a sculpture in the corner ahead of you. There are graphics and information text on the wall to your right and on the wall directly ahead. There is no voiceover in this section.

There is an introduction panel for the fourth section on the wall straight ahead of you as you exit the third section. There is also a bench seat. To the left of that is an emergency exit.
The digital artwork itself opens out to the left. There is a large projection on a wall diagonally across the space, with two breath sensors mounted on the floor at different heights. Breathing into the sensors activates the artwork.
There is an ambient soundtrack in this area.

Moving around the end of the wall bearing the introduction texts and bench, the fifth section is a partially enclosed space with a video playing at the back of it.
The texts to accompany this work are behind you on the wall opposite the screen. There is no voiceover in this section.

Exiting the previous section and turning to your left into the sixth section, there are two large illuminated cloud sculptures suspended in the space ahead of you. The information text is on the wall to your right and also in between the clouds ahead of you.
These clouds are designed for you to duck underneath and stand inside. The cloud on the left comes down to 160cm at the edge; inside it is the right height for a standing adult. The cloud on the right comes down to 120cm at the edge for wheelchair users, smaller adults and children.
There is a voiceover inside the clouds.
As you approach the clouds there is a hazard marker strip across the floor to indicate the edge of the cloud sculptures is at head height just in front of you. There is not a marker in between the two clouds, please take care in this area.

Passing the clouds to your left, turn left to enter the seventh section. There is a plinth in the middle of the floor with five pillars extending upwards to hand height. Place your hand on one of these to activate the artwork.
The information texts are on the walls to your left as you enter this space.
There is an ambient soundtrack and a voiceover in this space.

Passing through the previous section and turning to your right, the information texts for the eighth section are to your left on the wall. There is bench seating in the middle of the space, towards the back wall.
The floor and walls in this area are reflective and a large strip of projections runs all the way across the space on a screen ahead of you. There are frosted walkways or darker areas to walk across the reflective floors.
There is an intense ambient soundtrack and voiceover in this section.
In the middle of the floor in front of the projections are two light rings at different heights. Put your face into the light to activate the artwork.
A member of staff will be on duty in this space to assist visitors. There is an emergency exit down a corridor beyond the right-hand end of the projection screen.

At the exit of the big finale projection space is a large diagram of a phylogenetic ‘tree of life’ on the wall.
The exit can be found by turning left at the corner after the diagram, then following the wall on your left down a corridor lined with lists of species names on the walls.
This exit section has no voiceover.
The exit doors will be on the left, the same doors you entered through. This area may be crowded.