18 TOOLS & TECHNIQUES
As projection mapping becomes more common, the future of large-scale visual storytelling has never looked brighter. We dig a little deeper into the hardware and software powering this visionary movement Words Oliver Webb
D uring an evening stroll along the riverbank in downtown Chicago a few years ago, I sat down on some steps to take in the view of the Merchandise Mart – a stunning Art Deco landmark that has always fascinated me. As I sat admiring the view, purple lights suddenly illuminated the building. What followed was one of the most impressive displays of digital images I’d ever seen. I was familiar with projection mapping, but I hadn’t seen it on this scale before. I would later discover that the displays change every few months and had been going for several years. Remarkably, Art
CREATIVITY REIMAGINED While the term ‘projection mapping’ might be relatively new, the technique isn’t. One of the earliest public uses was in 1969 as part of the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland, California. The ride featured optical illusions known as the ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’, which appeared to sing a theme tune. To achieve this, videos of the actors singing were projected onto the busts, making them appear as if they were animated. According to Joe Graziano, director of sales and entertainment EMEA at Christie, the projection mapping industry is very active. “Over the last year or so, in
on the Mart is still the largest permanent digital art platform in the world. Powering the display are 34 Christie Boxer 4K30 projectors, which are utilised to project the artworks onto around 10,000 sq m of projection surface. For anyone who has ever been in the same spot looking at it, it’s difficult to fathom exactly where these are placed. Since then, projection mapping seems to be popping up everywhere – with stadiums, galleries, live events and even houses of worship all embracing the technology. But why exactly is this digital phenomenon so popular, and what can we expect for its future?
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