HCI #8: Us

This installation includes a series of nature paintings that act as mirrors, allowing us to see our own digital reflections hidden in different parts of nature.

Primary Collection

When approaching each painting, a viewer’s own face will be projected, in real time, into certain parts of the painting. This uses a specific projection effect to make the projected imagery appear as part of the painting, rather than a layer added on top of the real image.

Environment:
This is designed for a gallery presentation in an environment with controlled lighting. The lighting in the room should be dim and must avoid directly illuminating the paintings. Each painting will be solely lit by the projection, using a short throw projector mounted near each painting. Additional lighting is needed to illuminate the face of an approaching person, while minimizing light cast on the painting itself or the background behind them.

Technical:

• Each painting will have a short throw projector, which can be mounted securely above, below or to the side of the painting as needed. The projector’s throw should be optically aligned closely with the painting’s edges.

• Each painting will also have a camera mounted directly above the work, and both the camera and projector are controlled by computer and video processing software.

• A clear, linear, high-quality photo of each painting is required, for two uses. First, this image will be used to create projection masks to confine the projected imagery to certain portions of the painted image. Second, this will be digitally aligned with the painting itself and mixed subtractively with the live feed video to create the immersive image effect.

Parts List (per painting):

1. Painting

2. Short-Throw Projector

3. Wall Mount for Short Throw Projector

4. Camera

5. Computer with video processing software