The renowned Chateau des Duc de Bretagne castle has just re-opened after 15 years of renovation work and 3 years of complete closure. It features an innovative new video artwork covering the entire southern frontage of the building, created by Sylvie Sieg and Pierre Negre from Grenoble based agency, Atelier Lumiere, specialists in urban illumination.
It was the first time Atelier Lumiere has used video projection. They approached /ETC/ Paris - initially in 2004 - to work alongside them on the collaboration because of the company's reputation and experience in the specialist field of monumental and building projections. /ETC/ Paris director of museography & multimedia, Guy Garcia project managed the installation.
Garcia says, "This was a very special project which we are really proud to be involved in. It was excellent working with Atelier Lumiere, and together we met the many challenges and learned a lot in the process."
The video installation covers the southern frontage of the magnificent building and utilises seven Christie S+16 projectors each covering a 25m wide by 15m high zone, stretching a total of nearly 200m across the fascia of the chateau. /ETC/ Paris conducted initial site tests and then calibrated the results so the content could be worked on in the studio.
A series of laser triggers are set up on the site, so as people and objects - including the local tram, representing a strong modern image of the city - pass in front, different four- second video clips are randomly activated via the OnlyView system, and played out through the projectors. This creates a living, 'breathing' real time interactive work that's projected as a series of giant images onto the front of the building via different video clips.
Guy Garcia adds, "The most difficult aspects of this project were installing an exterior, fixed, high powered video projection - that is to last for seven years. There were many criteria to fulfill, but we have risen to all the challenges."
(Jim Evans)
