Sculptural Work

SculptureProjection Mapping

This page documents the build process of two video projection mapped face sculptures which I, along with the help of two others, designed, built, 3D animated and video projection mapped as part of two visual shows for music festivals.

The larger face sculpture with projections, behind the DJ booth

From sketch to stage

The larger of the two faces stood 2.5m tall. Every stage of the build was checked against the digital model used for the animation, so the projections would land precisely on the finished sculpture.

Concept and prototypes

An early design concept sketch with the 3D face already included.

A further developed small scale prototype that combines 3D printing and multiple layers of laser cut wood.

Another early 3D prototype, used to work out how much of the face to include so the projections would not distort when projected from too steep an angle.

An early test projection on the miniature scale model, making sure everything worked well.

Building the full-size face

Software turned the 3D mesh into a series of interlocking pieces of wood, laser cut and slotted together. This was a small scale prototype.

On the full size version, chicken wire bridged the gaps between the wood.

A layer of papier-mâché was then built up over the chicken wire.

A wireframe image of the digital model projection mapped onto the physical sculpture to test for discrepancies.

Checking against the digital model

A photogrammetry capture of the physical sculpture, so it could be compared closely with the digital version used for animation.

The capture imported into the modelling software, to compare the two and make small adjustments to the animation model.

A side view comparing the physical sculpture and the original digital model.

Adding finer detail

Separating the face into sections by level of detail allowed more pieces of wood to be used where the detail was finer.

The higher detail areas, built from more pieces of wood.

A layer of hessian, then a mix of clay and papier-mâché, used to create these features.

The features were inserted into the larger, simpler face, so the fine details could be worked on separately.

Finishing

Another view of the face after more layers and sanding.

After some paint had been added.

The 2.5m tall face from above.

The finished sculptures

The larger of the two faces with projections.

The larger face with additional details projected onto it.

The smaller of the two projection mapped face sculptures.

A face sculpture behind the DJ booth at a festival.

Commission a piece See the animation work

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As part of a larger project I 3D modelled, textured and animated this building from a single photograph, aligning the model to match the perspective.

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The Alternative stage at Hadra Trance Festival at night: a hand cut stage set with carved swirls, projection mapped with visuals

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Commissioned for the Alternative stage at Hadra Trance Festival in France.

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