Digital Projection, a specialist in laser projectors, provided its INSIGHT 4K Laser projectors for the final instalment of Ryoji Ikeda‘s data-verse exhibition series at 180 Studios, 180 The Strand. The exhibit, curated by Fact and The Vinyl Factory, showcased the Japanese visual and sound artist’s five years of work on the Data-Verse.
The show uses an audio-visual experience to explore the science of the natural world, using data sets from NASA and the Human Genome Project, DNA sequences, galactic coordinates and quantum physics. This was the first time the whole data-verse trilogy, consisting of 12 artworks commissioned by the Audemars Piguet Contemporary, were available to view from one location.
High resolution projectors needed
To present the installations effectively and provide a visually impactful experience, this project called for high-quality projectors able to replicate tiny details within the huge data sets. As a result, 180 The Strand chose 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,” says 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.”
The INSIGHT 4K projects deliver 27,000 lumens at a resolution of 4096 x 2160, four times the resolution of a standard HD projector.
“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,” adds Thomas.
An immersive experience
Ideal for a number of different installations, the projectors can project large, detailed images from just one projector, where previously edge blending 2 or more projectors would have been necessary. The solid-state laser light source also provides 20,000 hours of illumination.
This project used three of the projectors, mounted in different places across the studio, including one on the ceiling and two within custom-made columns. “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,” says Thomas. “This required us to build the projectors their own columns which we disguised as features of the original building.”
The immersive experience replicated the intensity of the works in perfect detail and was visited by 85,000 people. “We’ve had a tremendous reaction to this work, which is the first time it’s been shown on 3 screens at once,” says Thomas.
This summer, Digital Projection was also chosen by project:syntropy to provide the projection solutions for its latest Flying Theatre project.
Image credits: ©Ryoji Ikeda – data verse, 180 Studios, 2021. Picture Jack Hems
