top of page

Assignment A6 - Preparation for Assessment (Future Presentation)

Writer's picture:  Ian Meechan Ian Meechan

Updated: Jan 28


Image Credit - Ian Meechan
Image Credit - Ian Meechan

Introduction: After consulting with my tutor, I agreed to continue planning as if I were hosting an exhibition based on my assignment five projects. I lost a considerable amount of time due to ill health, but I was fortunate to still have the opportunity to work on completing Digital Image and Culture. As a result, a favourable outcome is that I used this as a method of experimentation and practice for future projects and exhibitions, which will be an integral part of the next unit.


Conceptualisation:


I will provide sketches of my ideas for a gallery presentation. The exhibition's placement considers several rooms. I've made a small physical model of the main room for context.

In the future, I plan to expand assignment five into a complete presentation of the rooms and screens for the level three stages of my units and to display in a real gallery.


Breakdown:

Floorplan drawing for gallery space
Floorplan drawing for gallery space





Technical Details: Planning the ME Project


I've compiled a full breakdown of the required technical set-up and assets using this knowledge.


1. Objectives & Overview

• Objective: Create an immersive experience in an ample gallery space featuring a video projection on a 20 to 30-meter wide screen.

• High-quality visuals with seamless edge blending.

• Smooth video playback c/w cooling systems.

• Robust and reliable set-up for long-duration operation.

• Sensory room for mindfulness.

• Direct scan to PC to link to Interactive board display.


2. Equipment List

Projectors

• Panasonic Professional Laser Projector (e.g., PT-RQ35K for 4K quality).

• PT-RQ35K has 30,000 lumens to ensure brightness and clarity on a large wide screen.

• Quantity: 3-5 projectors per screen for edge blending.

Projection Screens. (Use Throw Distance Calculator) https://docs.connect.panasonic.com/projector/

• Projection screens and modular panels with a matte finish to avoid hotspots.


Media Playback System

• Video servers with media playback software (e.g., Watchout, Resolume Arena, or Panasonic's Multi-Monitoring & Control Software).

• Redundant systems to ensure continuous playback.


Signal Distribution

• HDMI or SDI cables (with extenders if needed for long distances).

• Panasonic ET-UK20 or ET-CUK10 (optional) hardware/software for edge blending and warping.


Audio System

• High-quality surround sound systems (if audio is included in the videos).

• Amplifiers and speakers designed for large spaces. e.g. JBL System including cooling & ventilation. Surroundsound speakers at the back and sides of the room and low-frequency effect speakers at the front creating an immersive experience.

    Surroundsound Speakers Low-Frequency Effects

Backup Power

• Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) to protect equipment and prevent downtime in case of power failure.


3. Variable Room Set-up


Room Dimensions

• Each room should comfortably accommodate the 20-meter-wide screen with sufficient throw distance for the projectors.

• Ideal room depth: Depending on which room between 15 to 30 meters.

• Ceiling height: Minimum 8 meters.


Screen/projector placement

• Ceiling-mounted projector with adjustable brackets to align projectors precisely. 


4. Video Content & Playback

Content Preparation

• Format videos in 4K or higher resolution to match the projector's capabilities.

• Render videos in a high-efficiency codec (e.g., H.265) to maintain quality and minimise storage requirements.

Playback Schedule

• Load media on a video loop with set-up automated playback for minimal manual intervention.


5. Installation Timeline


Day 1: Site Prep

• Prepare the rooms, ensure proper ventilation, and install power and signal cabling.


Day 2: Screen & Projector Set-up

• Assemble and mount screens.

• Position and mount projectors on rigs.


Day 3: Calibration

• Align projectors and perform edge blending.

• Test and adjust brightness, colour, and contrast.


Day 4: Testing & Debugging

• Conduct an entire 8-hour test run.

• Address any playback, alignment, or cooling issues.


6. Maintenance & Monitoring

• Assign a technician to monitor the projectors, video server, and audio system during gallery hours.

• Use Panasonic's monitoring software for remote tracking of projector health.

• Keep spare parts (e.g., cables, projector lamps) and emergency tools on-site.


Planning Details: Exhibiting the ME Project


The audiovisual gallery presentation spans four distinct rooms, each offering a unique and immersive experience. It combines technology, storytelling, and emotion to create a journey through life's stages, memories, and personal reflections.


Room One: The Interactive Timeline

Upon entering Room One, visitors observe an interactive timeline that charts the journey from birth to old age. The timeline is designed with three large projection screens, each highlighting a different phase of life: childhood, adulthood, and old age. The dynamic timeline allows visitors to interact with the projections by selecting specific milestones, events, or themes.


Each screen presents vivid imagery, short video clips, and snippets of audio narration that transport the audience into the heart of these life stages. For instance, the childhood section may feature playful animations of school days, family celebrations, and moments of exploration, while adulthood focuses on achievements, personal growth, and forming meaningful relationships. The old age segment poignantly reflects on wisdom, legacy, and cherished memories.


This room invites visitors to engage deeply with the universal progression of life. Using touch-sensitive displays or motion sensors, they can explore the experiences that resonate most with them. This interactive element ensures that the audience is not just passive viewers but active participants in the exhibition.


Room Two: The Montage of Family Memories

Moving into Room Two, a multi-screened montage of family memories is displayed. This room features an array of screens of varying sizes arranged to mimic the organic, overlapping nature of photo albums or memory boards. The projections are a collection of photographs, video snippets, and audio recordings that evoke a sense of nostalgia and warmth.


The content in this room is curated to reflect universal themes of family and connection. Scenes of shared meals, vacations, celebrations, and quiet moments at home create and resonate with audiences. The overlapping screens allow multiple narratives to play simultaneously, encouraging viewers to piece together the stories in their way. Surround-sound audio tracks accompany voices and laughter, and ambient sounds immerse visitors in familial love and togetherness.


This room invites reflection and connection, encouraging visitors to think about their family histories and the moments that have shaped their lives. It's a space where personal memories intertwine with collective experiences, fostering a sense of unity and shared humanity.


Room Three: A Year in My Life, the Me in the ME Project

The main room showcases a large-screen movie presentation titled "A Year in My Life." This cinematic experience is a deeply personal reflection on a single year, capturing the ebb and flow of my daily life, significant milestones, and moments of introspection. The room is a theatre, with comfortable seating to allow visitors to immerse themselves fully.

A montage of scenes arranged into 12 months displaying poignant items in my hand for each month of the year.


Narrated in the first person, it offers an intimate glimpse into the highs and lows of a year, showcasing the beauty of ordinary moments and the profound impact of significant events.

The sound design, featuring a mix of imagery, music, and ambient sounds, encourages visitors to reflect on their own lives and consider how the passage of time shapes their journeys.


Room Four: The Mindfulness Room

The final stop in the gallery is Room Four, a sanctuary dedicated to mindfulness and introspection. This space encourages visitors to contemplate their lives and find moments of stillness. 


The mindfulness room provides a moment of quiet contemplation. Visitors are invited to leave behind a note or message about their year, adding an interactive element that ties their experiences to the broader narrative of the exhibition.


While it may seem different from the other rooms, the 'Mindfulness Room' is a crucial part of the exhibition. It provides a space for visitors to reflect on their own experiences and connect with the broader narrative of the exhibition.


Visitors are invited to sit, breathe, and reflect in this serene environment. The ambient sounds—a mix of soft melodies and natural tones—enhance the meditative experience, while the lighting transitions subtly between warm and cool hues, creating a soothing visual backdrop.


Upon leaving Room Four, visitors can write down their thoughts on paper. These reflections could be about themselves, someone who passed away, or their broader thoughts. Once written, the notes are scanned and displayed on an interactive whiteboard for other gallery visitors to view.


Creating a collective of reflections allows visitors to connect with the thoughts and emotions of others.


Conclusion

The audiovisual presentation explores life's stages, memories, and personal reflections. Each room offers a unique experience that engages the senses and stirs emotions. Room One's interactive timeline invites visitors to journey through life's stages, Room Two's family memories create a nostalgic and heartwarming atmosphere, Room Three's cinematic presentation provides an intimate reflection on a year in the life, and Room Four's mindfulness space offers a moment of introspection and connection. Together, these spaces create a cohesive and deeply moving narrative that celebrates the beauty, complexity, and interconnectedness of human experiences.


Reflection:

Digital Image and Culture has been my most challenging unit since I started my OCA course. Not for the obvious reasons that as the units progress, they become more difficult, and the workload increases.


The first half of the course was when I worked at Wangkatjungka Remote Community School, an Indigenous school in the middle of the desert of Western Australia, where no internet was the norm. Still, I made it work during the school breaks when I would return to Perth in the city.


Thankfully, I had the last half of the year off, so I would be in an area where I could catch up on assignments. However, I was seriously ill during this time. 


I don't want these to sound like excuses; on the contrary, I want to show that no matter what happens, you can still keep going. I'm glad to have completed the course and am now submitting my final work for assessment.


References:


ArtDependence, n.d. ArtDependence | Butterflies come to Life with New Interactive Artwork at Naturalis [WWW Document]. URL https://www.artdependence.com/articles/butterflies-come-to-life-with-new-interactive-artwork-at-naturalis/ (accessed 1.28.25).

Cinema Sound Systems | Christie Vive Audio [WWW Document], n.d. . Cinema Sound Systems | Christie - Audio Visual Solutions. URL https://www.viveaudio.com/ViveAudio/viveaudio.html (accessed 1.28.25).

Cinema [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.qsys.com/products-solutions/solutions/applications/cinema/ (accessed 1.28.25).

Dolby Cinema Speakers and Audio Products [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://professional.dolby.com/product/cinema-audio-products/ (accessed 1.28.25).

Morris, D., 1983. The Book of Ages. Jonathan Cape Ltd.

Multi Monitoring & Control Software | Software | Download | Professional Displays | Panasonic Global [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://docs.connect.panasonic.com/prodisplays/download/software/multi/ (accessed 1.28.25).

Palads Teatret, Denmark | JBL Professional Loudspeakers | English [WWW Document], n.d. . JBL Professional Loudspeakers. URL https://jblpro.com/en/case_studies/palads-teatret-denmark (accessed 1.28.25).

Projector | Panasonic Global [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://docs.connect.panasonic.com/projector/ (accessed 1.28.25).

Resolume VJ Software & Media Server [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.resolume.com/ (accessed 1.28.25).

The Beauty of Nothingness - Alan Watts, 2016.

WATCHOUT award winning multi-display software [WWW Document], n.d. . Dataton. URL https://www.dataton.com/products/watchout (accessed 1.28.25).


32 views0 comments

Commentaires


bottom of page