Shift is a striking site-specific light installation commissioned by the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, U.K. Drawing on the myth of the Phoenix, this piece transforms the college’s iconic Brutalist staircase into a living canvas of bold colours, dynamic patterns, and kinetic light. By embracing the raw, industrial aesthetic of the structure, Shift highlights its sharp lines, abrupt transitions, and intense energy, reimagining the space as a symbol of resurgence and renewal.

Through a choreography of sweeping crescendos and sudden descents into minimalist calm, Shift embodies the cyclical journey of rebirth and revival. Architectural projection mapping techniques precisely align each visual element with the contours and surfaces of the staircase, accentuating its rigid geometry and creating an immersive play of light and shadow. This interplay breathes new life into the staircase, allowing it to evolve through stages of vibrancy and stillness, echoing the theme of continual transformation.

Shift serves as both a homage to the Brutalist architecture and a symbol of reinvention, inviting audiences to experience the staircase as a metaphorical journey through cycles of decay and renewal, mirroring the Phoenix’s rise from ashes to life.