Digital Projection propels art fans into the Data-Verse
Three INSIGHT 4K laser projectors were deployed for artist Ryoji Ikeda’s London show which was inspired by datasets drawn from NASA, the Human Genome Project and other high-tech sources.
Known for his artistic works created from raw data and sound, Japanese visual and sound artist Ryoji Ikeda recently presented the final instalment of his Data-Verse exhibition series at 180 Studios, 180 The Strand.
The exhibit – which was curated by Fact and The Vinyl Factory – explored Ikeda’s five years of work on the Data-Verse, which investigates through an audio-visual experience the science of the natural world, via vast data sets conducted by NASA and the Human Genome Project, DNA sequences, galactic coordinates and quantum physics.
The event marked the first time the entirety of the data-verse trilogy, all 12 artworks, commissioned by the Audemars Piguet Contemporary, were available to view from one location, with the previous data-verse instalments launched in 2019. Audemars Piguet has been a cornerstone partner in the success of Ryoji Ikeda’s Solo Exhibition in London.
With the exhibition also featuring a number of never seen before installations, it was vital that the works were represented effectively, and the projectors used for the project needed to replicate the smallest details in the vast data sets within the artwork. For this reason, 180 The Strand chose to rely on Digital Projection’s INSIGHT 4K projectors.
“Having worked with Ryoji previously at 180 and for Venice Biennale, we were aware that his work requires the very best and most current technology to work with. Hence this choice,” said Neil Thomas, head of production at 180 The Strand & London AV. “We previously ran a test of Data-Verse and could see the 4K’s potential, so we knew it was the right decision.”
Delivering 27,000 lumens of solid-state illumination at a resolution of 4096 x 2160, Digital Projection’s Insight 4K Laser projectors provide four times the resolution of a standard HD projector. The crystal-clear level of detail was a particular advantage for the Ikeda exhibit, ensuring no detail was missed.
“Ryoji and his studio are very autonomous and thorough in their preparation, which leaves me to concentrate on perfecting the build elements he requires for the artwork,” continued Thomas. Suited to a range of installations, the projectors have the capability to project large, detailed images from just one projector, where previously edge blending two or more projectors would have been necessary.
The three projectors were mounted across the studio for maximum effect. One was ceiling-mounted, while the others were installed into columns built just for the installation. “The weight of the projectors, the height for installation, and the fact we had to have them inverted for the work were all elements we had to consider in the project,” explained Thomas. “This required us to build the projectors their own columns which we disguised as features of the original building.”
The result was an immersive experience enjoyed by a reported 85,000 visitors over the course of the exhibition. “We’ve had a tremendous reaction to this work, which is the first time it’s been shown on three screens at once,” said Thomas.
Posted: 20th October 2021