The art of celebration

How does an iconic art institution celebrate the beginning of a new era? With a big celebration, of course - and a commission to match. Marking the beginning of the Royal Academy's £50m transformation by Sir David Chipperfield, the esteemed institution has turned to Oscar-nominated film director Mike Figgis and performance duo Carnet de Voyage to capture a behind the scenes journey through its hallowed halls. Known for their site-specific projects which use architecture as a central pillar, Rosey Chan and Mimi Xu say their latest project reflects a continuous dialogue between the past and the future. The 30-minute sonic and visual performance will be premiered at a private celebration at the RA on 26 October.