Journal Entry #9 & Projection Mapping Project Documentation and Commentary

Prompt: Each class meeting, you should be writing one page on the topic we covered in class. You can also use this as a time to do independent research, create photo essays, or similar. If you’re unsure, contact me about it. You should also use this space as an opportunity to write about inspirations for your own work, and to put your sketches, illustrations, etc. online.
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In this ninth reflection, I will be:
a/ Putting down and reacting to my highlights among the things covered in class
b/ Uploading, documenting and commenting on my projection mapping project

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a/ My highlights among the things covered in class

Today we had our crash course on electricity and we also had the opportunity to actually work with circuits and their components. We learnt how to use Arduino in order to “give orders to lights to behave any way we want”. Honestly, I felt a bit nervous because of how I have not done any electricity whatsoever for the past five years. However, thanks to this course, that is a feeling I am now used to, and that I now know how to deal with, in front of unfamiliar material. I am totally excited to delve into this third part of the course, and finally light things up by myself for the first time ever in my life!

 

 

b/ Our projection mapping project

One of my main takeaways of the process of creating this project was the understanding that projection mapping projects are not exceptions to the rule according to which one never knows the actual feasibility of a project until they actually attempt to physically implement it. At first we were set to get a 3D print of the Shanghai tower, and project on it. However, after getting the print, we found out how uninteresting it would be to project on the tower because of its thin nature, but also because of its lack of texture. We needed another structure, that would allow us to get as close as possible to what we were envisioning the projection to look like.

 

The team decided to follow the video tutorial below to attempt to make a twisted column paper lamp fold, in order to get a structure that is full of texture, but also has the charming zigzag shape of the Shanghai tower.

After folding the paper, we decided to use MadMapper for the projection, and thus needed to cut 30+ masks (please see below) in order to be able to project on the structure in a way that its beautiful structure we be made use of. I was personally the one doing the mask cutting and mapping onto the structure. It was a process that required a lot of attention and precision. Working with MadMapper to such an extent was such an eye opener with regard to the great power of the application to create wonders to the eye. I will absolutely be needing it and making use of it in future!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afterwards, we inserted the video below into MadMapper, for its projection on the structure.

 

And here was the result!