Student recreates iconic Microsoft wallpaper as giant sculpture

Owen T Douglass has created MEGA- Bliss 5000, a three metre wide, four metre deep sculptural recreation of the famous ‘Microsoft Hill,’ also known as the Bliss wallpaper - the vivid green landscape and blue sky that became synonymous with Windows XP desktops across the world.

Originally photographed in January 1996 by former National Geographic photographer Charles O’Rear in California’s Sonoma County, the image is entirely real and unedited. After Microsoft acquired the rights in 2000, it went on to become one of the most viewed photographs in history, seen by billions of people globally.

Now, Owen has reimagined the digital icon in physical form - with a tactile twist.

Throughout his three years at Solent, Owen has become known for bold, large-scale sculptural works that blend humour with cultural references. Previous projects include a cardboard banana sculpture - duct-taped to a wall in the University’s container exhibition in Guildhall Square - a playful nod to Maurizio Cattelan’s controversial artwork Comedian, as well as a towering Microsoft error screen installation that gained significant engagement on TikTok and Instagram – a viral moment that became the springboard for his final major project.

“I’ve always been interested in things people instantly recognise,” says Owen. “The Bliss wallpaper is something almost everyone has seen, even if they don’t realise it. I wanted to bring it into the real world and let people physically interact with it.”

From concept to completion, MEGA-Bliss 5000 took five months - a process Owen describes as “blood, sweat and tears.”

Constructed using timber, funded by Solent University’s compulsory course costs support grant, alongside repurposed workbenches he had used throughout his degree, the structure itself became a culmination of his time at university.

To recreate the distinctive grassy hill, Owen enlisted help from friends, family and fellow students, who ordered artificial grass samples that were repurposed into 1,364 individual 10cm x 10cm tiles. Each tile was carefully stapled into place, creating a subtly pixelated surface that mirrors the digital version of the image.

The sky has been carefully recreated by reprinting the original Microsoft image, enlarged to three metres wide and produced in Solent University’s photography studio, forming a striking backdrop to the sculptural hill.

Above the sculpted hill, Owen has suspended a series of nostalgic digital elements, including a wooden cursor, desktop icons, and a recreation of the iconic bouncing DVD screensaver - which he filmed himself, painted blue and enclosed within a handmade frame.

What began as a visual homage has evolved into an interactive installation, with students and staff naturally drawn to the sculpture as a place to sit, relax and reconnect away from screens.

In an age where the phrase “touching grass” has become shorthand for stepping back from online life, Owen’s work offers a literal and light-hearted interpretation.

“Seeing people come and sit on it, eat lunch, or just spend a few minutes there has been amazing,” he says. “That’s exactly what I wanted - something that’s fun and makes people feel good.”

For Owen, art has also been a deeply personal outlet. Following the loss of his father at 18, he used part of his inheritance to build a shed - a space that became central to his creative practice and helped him process grief.

Reflecting on his time at Solent, Owen credits the University for giving him the time and support to develop his distinctive voice as an artist.

“It’s been three years of experimenting and trying new ideas with really supportive staff,” he says. “I’ve had the freedom to make work that feels true to me.”

Looking ahead, Owen hopes to continue creating large scale, playful artworks that are truly accessible and bring joy to audiences.

Visitors can experience MEGA-Bliss 5000 in person - and even sit on the hill - as part of Solent University’s Summer Degree Show 2026, taking place from 5 June. The exhibition showcases work from final year students from the School of Creative Industries, offering a vibrant celebration of emerging talent.