Johnnie Walker

Creating ‘impossible video sculptures’…

Situated in the luxury retail district of Cheongdam, Johnnie Walker House Seoul allows patrons to immerse themselves in the world of whisky whilst introducing them to the history, provenance and pioneering spirit of the Johnnie Walker brand. Part gallery, part lifestyle space and part museum — it brings together luxury whisky innovation with art, design and culture. Along with Universal Everything we were commissioned to create a series of films that would grace its oversized video walls.

Brief—

We were challenged with translating the flavour notes and character of the brand’s premium whiskies into a series of beguiling, abstract films.

Approach—

Using Houdini software we set about to create ‘impossible video sculptures’ that would entice the senses — allowing sight and sound to trigger taste, in turn emotionally captivating viewers. Both films (Johnnie Walker Blue and Platinum respectively) are single, mesmeric shots that loop in perpetuity — wave after wave of ever-evolving flavours and textures graphically rendered to bombard the senses.

Whilst ‘Blue’ goes minimal, ‘Platinum’ goes maximum — light refracted golden hues collide with flashes of tangerine and chrome; cherries pop through cool, sinuous platinum structures as we transition through to billowing smoke sculptures that create a long, lingering finish to the film.

Result—

Further commissions followed as the brand opened subsequent houses in Chengdu and Shanghai.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label

The Blue Label ‘impossible video sculpture’ is the first of two beguiling, abstract films designed to evoke the atmosphere, character and flavours of the brand’s premium whiskies. Our aim was to play with the senses, allowing sight and sound to trigger taste — in turn emotionally captivating viewers.

Johnnie Walker Platinum

The Platinum video sculpture is another single, mesmeric shot that loops in perpetuity — wave after wave of ever-evolving flavours and textures graphically rendered to bombard the senses. Shimmering cool platinum tones and light refracted golden hues collide with flashes of tangerine and chrome. Cherries pop through cool, sinuous platinum structures as we transition through to billowing smoke sculptures that create a long, lingering finish to the film.