‘Culture Formula’ is an interactive designed to explore the cultural significance of objects; and how their meanings can change when they are combined with other objects, or viewed from a different cultural perspective.

‘Culture Formula’ aims to help the visitor understand the gallery artworks through the references they contain. It also enables visitors to identify with, and understand the creative process by which various works of art have been conceptualised and developed.

‘Culture Formula’ consists of fifty-four acrylic boxes, each containing a different object, and an interactive table. Visitors place boxes on the table in the ‘formula’ marked out for them. The interactive, having automatically recognised which objects have been chosen, then prompts the visitor to consider what the combination of objects means to them. They then enter this personal meaning into the interactive using an on-screen keyboard.

The visitor repeats this process twice more, changing one of the objects each time and entering a new meaning into the interactive. As the visitor works through this process, the interactive constructs a ‘meaning trail’ that enables them to see how changing an object alters what the formula means to them.

The meaning trail is designed to demonstrate to the visitor how the combination of objects can create meaning and to provide an insight into the ways artists employ this process.

Heritage Multimedia is working in partnership with the Tate at a range of art galleries around England supporting the Visual Dialogues project. Visual Dialogues is funded by the Government Department of Culture Media and Sport under their Strategic Commissioning programme, which is designed to facilitate partnership working between national and regional museums and galleries in order to enrich educational experiences for children and young people and encourage the involvement of new audiences.

'The best piece of art work I have ever seen in recent times. Thanks for a fantastic interactive experience.'

'This is modern art at its best. Not silly and devoid of talent but deep, meaningful, it makes you think.'

'My favourite parts were the gift shop and the café. However I liked the culture part because it let you interact.'

'They make one think of memories past and memories yet to be discovered! It’s an odd thing culture, brings many different kinds of people together. It’s a nice exhibit!'

'Interactive art -> learning. I love it.'

'I like the idea that you can express your own feelings. I like it. This is good.'

'Interesting. This is a good idea I like the fact it answers no questions it just provokes thought.'