Digital Projection’s INSIGHT 4K laser projectors recently helped to realise Japanese visual and sound artist Ryoji Ikeda’s final instalment of his spectacular data-verse exhibition series at 180 Studios, 180 The Strand, London (May 20 – September 18). Known for his incredible artistic works created from raw data and sound, Ikeda’s exhibition featured a number of never seen before installations, and three INSIGHT projectors were required to replicate the smallest details in the vast data sets within the artwork.
The exhibit – which was curated by Fact and The Vinyl Factory – explored Ikeda’s five years of work on the data-verse, which investigates the science of the natural world through an audio-visual experience, 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 – 12 artworks, commissioned by the Audemars Piguet Contemporary – were available to view from one location, with the previous data-verse instalments launched in 2019.
Delivering 27,000 lumens of solid-state illumination at a resolution of 4096 x 2160, Digital Projection’s INISIGHT 4K laser projectors provide four times the resolution of a standard HD projector. This level of detail was a particular advantage for the Ikeda exhibit, ensuring no detail was missed.
“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.”
Suited to a range of installations, the projectors have the capability to project large, detailed images from just one unit, where previously edge-blending two or more projectors would have been necessary. With 20,000 hours of illumination from the solid-state laser light source, the INSIGHT 4K laser is said to boast an “unbeatable” efficiency and reliability.
Three INSIGHT projectors were mounted in different places across the studio for maximum effect, with one was ceiling mounted, with the others installed into columns built specially 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.”
“We’ve had a tremendous reaction to this work, which is the first time it’s been shown on three screens at once,”
