It is the second of its kind after The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years took to Manchester Museum
The giant snail is taking to the streets of Manchester this weekend(Image: Supplied)
A huge interactive snail is making its way to Manchester city centre this weekend which can be played with for free.
Luma is a nine-metre-long, inflatable, robotic snail, brought to life by creative robotics studio Air Giants, who are also responsible for the giant cat currently sleeping in Manchester Museum.
It comes as part of the free family programme at the Manchester Museum around their exhibition The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years, and will give visitors to Manchester city centre a unique chance to have fun with this otherworldly being.
Like the cat, Luma uses air flow to move around, drawing inspiration from the extraordinary range of flexing and contorting motion found in bio-mechanics to create a beautiful range of movement.
Luma the giant snail responds to touch (Image: Supplied)
Part artwork, part feat of engineering, Luma has a gentle and welcoming presence, inviting visitors to get up close, as the snail responds to movement and touch.
She will perform in St Ann’s Square for two days on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August, from 10am until 4pm. It’s a free experience that’s open to all.
The giant cat currently sleeping at Manchester Museum, also made by creative robotics studio Air Giants, is an immersive experience featuring a 10-metre-long robotic cat that breathes, responds to visitors and “gently invites reflection on empathy and care”.
Bean bags are set up around the cat so that visitors can relax alongside it, or you can also get up close to the giant animal and rub his chin, tickle his belly and paws, and watch as his ears twitch. His purrs become more intense as they react to your presence.
Younger visitors can also write the cat a letter at the end of the exhibition for when he eventually awakes from his slumber, as well as draw their own cat portraits and see a wall of real life cats sent in by members of the public.
Luma will be at St Ann’s Square on 2nd and 3rd of August (Image: T Arran Photo)