Ars Electronica and Christie collaborate to deliver stunning visuals for Deep Space and beyond
Photos courtesy of JZE
Ars Electronica Solutions, renowned for its innovative approaches to blending art, science, and technology, has long been a pioneer in creating immersive experiences that captivate audiences worldwide. In its quest to push the boundaries of visual storytelling, the Austria-based cultural, educational, and scientific institute finds a perfect partner in Christie. Since 2016, together they deliver breathtaking stereoscopic projections in up to 8K resolution with a high frame rate (HFR) of 120Hz for the highly popular Deep Space immersive experiences that transform exhibition spaces across the globe.
From the Ars Electronica Center in Linz, Austria, to the West Bund Museum in Shanghai, China, our 4K RGB pure laser projectors leave audiences spellbound. Our collaboration has also enhanced venues such as the Sinaloa Science Center in Culiacan, Mexico; and Johannes Kepler University in Linz, Austria.
Elevating immersion and realism
Patrick Müller, Head of Technical Operations at Ars Electronica Solutions, emphasizes the synergy between their high-resolution 2D and 3D content and our RGB pure laser projectors. “The projections on the wall and on the floor fully immerse audiences into the narrative of the content,” he says. “The ability to show 120Hz active stereo in frame-sequential mode with native 4K UHD resolution sets our projects apart. This combination ensures that visitors, who are often closest to the projection surface, experience every little detail.”
"The detail and color accuracy of Christie projectors bring art to life, allowing visitors to appreciate nuances and subtleties like never before." - Patrick Müller
Our RGB pure laser technology, with its innovative laser illumination system architecture, excels in color reproduction, brightness, and image uniformity. Featuring an all-in-one design with integrated cooling and a sealed optical path, flagship models such as the Griffyn Series and M 4K RGB Series – which are used in the Deep Space projects – deliver vibrant images and pure colors that create unparalleled shared experiences.
“Beyond the realistic colors achievable with Christie projectors, features like electronic color convergence (ECC) adjustment, which allows remote digital adjustment of red, green, or blue colors, set them apart,” adds Müller. “These and other features allow easy service and enable lifelike visuals with lasting quality.”
A partnership of innovation
Explaining the impact of the partnership on the Deep Space exhibits in Austria and Shanghai, Müller highlights that Christie provides the ideal projection equipment, including HFR native active stereo capability with a Christie Mirage license. “This sets us apart from conventional immersive installations. Additionally, the Christie Link signal transmitter and HDMI card are perfect for transmitting high bandwidth image signals to the projectors.”
Müller notes that the combination of Ars Electronica Solutions’ content and Christie’s RGB pure laser projection significantly enhances visitor engagement, particularly for art historian guest lecturers and art enthusiasts who dedicate their lives to studying fine art masterpieces.
“When they see paintings presented as gigapixel images with incredibly high resolution and realistic colors, it’s a mind-blowing experience. The detail and color accuracy of Christie projectors bring art to life, allowing visitors to appreciate nuances and subtleties like never before. This fusion of content and technology redefines the art viewing experience, which creates deeper connections and a lasting impact on the audience.”
Driven by innovation, Ars Electronica develops applications like Gigapixel Viewer, a presentation platform that gives users a zoom function they can use to examine high-resolution images at the tiniest level of detail. Integrating this technology into Deep Space further enhances the ability of Christie RGB pure laser projection to show incredible detail. Müller explains that Gigapixel Viewer requires the highest resolution to perform optimally, which pushes most projectors to their limits. Looking ahead, he envisions that 8K projectors will be ideal for future installations, offering visitors an even more unique and high-quality experience.
Future directions and continuous innovation
The resounding success of Ars Electronica Solutions’ collaboration with Christie for Deep Space projects aligns with its mission to create innovative and customized immersive experiences for museums worldwide. “We are very pleased to have the support of a stable, trustworthy, and high-quality partner like Christie,” says Müller. “The availability of their products and the support of our local dealer, Ton & Bild Medientechnik GmbH, for research, testing, and planning with the latest Christie products, also play a significant role in accomplishing these projects with flair.”
Looking ahead, Ars Electronica is planning new Deep Space projects with advanced technical setups. Müller expresses a commitment to incorporating higher resolution projectors or LED technologies while maintaining the HFR 3D experience. “While LED technology holds promise, there are challenges regarding load capacity, resolution, reliability, and pricing,” he says.
Nevertheless, Christie’s strengths in RGB pure laser projection technology remain unparalleled. Müller concludes, “Christie’s expertise ensures that our solutions continue to set the standard for high-resolution, immersive and interactive visual experiences.”
