Glasgow’s Pollok House Transforms into a Sonic Wonderland for Arts Festival

Glasgow's historic Pollok House is about to become the center of an exciting arts festival called Sonica. This grand house, built in 1752, is famous for its beautiful architecture and gardens. Normally, Pollok House is filled with old paintings and artifacts, but it has been closed since 2023 for important repairs. Now, before it officially reopens, the house will be transformed into a creative space for artists and musicians from all over the world.

The Sonica festival will turn Pollok House into a place full of sound and art. Visitors will find singing sculptures, mechanical birds, and other unusual art installations spread across three floors and the gardens. Some of these artworks will react to people as they walk by, making the experience interactive and surprising. One of the main exhibits is a video installation called Mundus Inversus, created by the group AES+F, which shows a world turned upside down. There will also be an immersive piece by artist Konx-om-Pax, inspired by his experience of synaesthesia, where senses like sight and sound mix together.

The festival will run for 11 days, from September 24 to October 4, and will feature more than 170 artists and musicians from 21 countries. Besides Pollok House, other locations in Glasgow will also host festival events. For example, Buchanan Galleries in the city center will have robotic sculptures that interact with shoppers. The festival will open with a new audiovisual show by artist Dinos Chapman, and electronic music pioneer Suzanne Ciani will perform in Scotland for the first time. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra will play Philip Glass's Symphony No. 4, which is inspired by David Bowie's music. The festival is organized by Cryptic, and its artistic director, Cathie Boyd, says the event will bring new and exciting experiences to Glasgow, encouraging people to see and hear art in fresh ways.