International. The firm Obscura has set up what is considered the largest projection mapping display installed in the world to date. And he has done it in the theMART building in Chicago, formerly known as Merchandise Mart.
For the mapping entitled Art on theMART, Obscura has used 34 Christie Boxer 4K30 projectors, with which it projects more than one million lumens on the south façade of the iconic building, whose surface exceeds 10,000 m².
The owners of the building probed Obscura about the possibility of creating an attraction that would pay tribute to that rich heritage and at the same time contribute to the constant revitalization of the Riverwalk, the famous pedestrian promenade that runs along the south bank of the Chicago River. With an impressive track record of major screenings including those made at the Vatican or the Empire State Building, Obscura was excited at the opportunity to project on what was once the largest building in the world, with more than 370,000 m² of surface and, until 2008, a zip code of its own.
"When we received the commission we knew that it was a huge building, but our enthusiasm soared when we knew that the project was going to become the largest projection mapping ever done in the world. That may have added more pressure to what is normally felt when taking on a new project, but the level of the team we have allows us to face practically anything," explained Will Chase, head of communications at Obscura.
And that team set to work to create a digital 3D model of the building from a laser scan, which would reflect all the architectural details of theMART and help decide what projector setup would be required. Obscura also developed a content management solution that would allow show control and help themart curatorial team to quickly and easily upload and render/resolve the content of the mapping, which included masking the windows with special software to prevent light from the projectors from sneaking into the interior of the building.
Obscura studied with Vornado what to do to house the 34 Christie Boxer projectors, and they decided to commission the architecture studio Valerio Dewalt Train Associates (VDTA) to design a custom enclosure that would be located on the other side of the Chicago River. "The projectors are located inside an architecturally integrated structure with a glass wall and equipped with the necessary mechanical and electrical systems," said Nathan Houchin, senior technical producer at Obscura Digital. Within that structure, the projectors are safe from the elements, thus guaranteeing the operation of the show five nights a week, from February to December.
Each of the main channels has 16 projectors, stacked to achieve greater brightness; the central channel covering the tower has two projectors, also stacked. All projectors merge to create a single, homogeneous image.
With such a demanding program, Obscura was aware that they needed reliable, high-brightness projectors with which to manage, not only the gigantic façade, but also the ambient lighting caused by street lamps, traffic, other buildings and the reflective surface of the Chicago River itself. Various tests were carried out, and Christie's Boxer 4K30 projectors emerged, according to Chase, as the most logical solution, but also as the most economically advisable.
Diana Thater, Zheng Chongbin, Jason Salavon and Jan Tichy, prestigious artists from various fields, were chosen from a large number of candidates for the great premiere on September 29. His works will continue to alternate on the façade with those of other artistic pieces and creators that will be incorporated in the future.
