Fen to Fire is an innovative digital art installation that brings the Late Bronze Age Must Farm settlement to life through immersive, photorealistic computer graphics.
Premiering at Everyspace, March Library on Sat 18 April, 11am – 1pm, the project invites visitors to experience the settlement’s entire lifespan—from its construction and daily activities to its dramatic destruction by fire. Created by digital artist Guy Schofield in collaboration with young people from Cromwell Community College, the project reconstructs a photorealistic world from archaeological evidence, exploring how people lived and what might have happened on the day it was lost. Young participants shaped the content by designing 3D characters, acting out scenes, and contributing to sound and motion capture, making the piece a living portrait of both ancient and contemporary Fenland communities.
“I’ve learnt that archaeology is a lot more than you think, it’s about looking at what you have and working out how people would have lived”
“It’s good this is happening here because this is how people in the fens lived 3000 years ago, so it’s our history”
— participants from Cromwell Community College
The installation features a multi-screen setup that showcases dynamic views of the settlement, close-up details, and behind-the-scenes footage of the creative process. Fen to Fire is part of Collusion’s SHAPE Hub programme, a partnership with the University of Cambridge supporting collaboration between artists and academics to increase public impact and opportunities for innovation. With thanks to the University of Cambridge Department of Archaeology, Collections-Connections-Communities (CCC), the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research and the Cambridge Archaeological Unit.
“When we were excavating at Must Farm the incredible preservation gave us glimpses into so many everyday moments of Bronze Age life. Fen to Fire has captured those moments and brought the site to life in a way that is both immediate and engaging.”
— Dr Chris Wakefield, Engagement Officer, Cambridge Archaeological Unit
Artists
Creative team
Guy Schofield (Lead artist) works with museums, heritage organisations and communities across the UK, using videogame technologies to explore local heritage and archaeology. He is also a senior lecturer in Digital Archaeology at the University of York.
Chris Wakefield (Producer) has been both an archaeologist and engagement coordinator on the Must Farm project and currently works as the Engagement Officer for the Cambridge Archaeological Unit.
Rosa Torr (Engagement) is an interdisciplinary producer specialising in community and cultural engagement projects, working especially with communities who don’t often receive access to arts.
