ANU a canvas for digital arts

The phenomenal popularity of digital projection art continues to rise thanks to high profile shows like Vivid Sydney and Enlighten. 

Projection by Gareth Dunston on the Peter Karmel Building in May 2014.

The Photography and Media Arts Workshop is no stranger to this growing art form. 

Last month, before the chill of winter set in, students and staff from the workshop gathered to experiment with methods for digital projection on the Peter Karmel building in the Arts and Music precinct of ANU.

“Digital arts are exploding out of the computer screen as large-scale projections on walls, buildings and other outdoor environments,” says Head of Workshop Dr Martyn Jolly.

“The challenge with outdoor projections is responding creatively to the outdoor environment, taking into account dimensions, textures, public responses and so on. It’s very different to projecting digital artwork onto a blank screen.

“Large-scale, highly-planned, big-budget projections are now part of many outdoor festivals and events. So we’re experimenting with being more immediate in our response to an urban environment or a social situation, perhaps a bit more guerrilla!”

Another projection from earlier this year, featured in the video below, showed forms that appeared to be directly interacting with the geometric murals on the Peter Karmel building’s façade. The murals were originally designed by Canberra artist and School of Art graduate Marie Hagerty.

Rather than being tied to a particular piece of assessment, these projections were an opportunity for staff and students to collaborate and freely experiment with this rapidly developing art form.

The opportunities for this type of professional experience are only expanding for Photography and Media Arts students.

In late 2013, they created computer generated projections within the 74 inch Reflector Telescope Dome of the Mount Stromlo Observatory, devastated by bush fires in 2003, for a major conference keynote by Professor Brian Schmidt.

Digital projections are not just an outdoor affair. Increasingly, they are also used to create sophisticated sets in stage productions. In August this year students will work with internationally renowned digital artist Andrew Quinn on the digital set for L’Orfeo, an epic opera being produced by the School of Music.  

They will also be involved in the Colour Music exhibition at the Drill Hall Gallery in September. 

Projection Night, Peter Karmel, 2014 from Photography and Media Arts, ANU on Vimeo.