After evaluating some possibilities for the content of our projections we decided to leave apart the ones requiring a perfect overlapping as it implied being very precise. The main problem in terms of precision is the ignorance of the exact space we are going to dispose, as we will be really constricted with the projecting distances. Wall-projection distance has to be two times mirror-projection distance, and depending on the space available we will be able to have a bigger or small image on the wall, and a bigger or small image on the grid.
Another point to avoid looking for a perfect overlapping is the length of the video. The two projections have run exactly at the same time, and different pc’s or projectors can accelerate or reduce the velocity of the projection a little bit. As the projection is going to be a short one, if it happens the synchronisation of both videos will not be perfect, and neither the overlapping.
These are the technical restrictions for the content. But now it comes the moment when we have to decide what we want to say with our projections. Since the idea of our installation is to question the projection surface allowing the viewers to interact with it to generate different images, and consequently different meanings, it seems that the content should follow the same discourse.
Focusing on human interaction with the piece, we decided that what we will explain with the images will be something that had also been affected by human interaction. Hence, the idea is to be critic with human intervention in the world. Human invasion of forest and unspoilt lands have turned them into a city and once they have the dark, grey and polluted city they wonder like shadows with no direction.
We are trying to be sarcastic when creating something appealing which is meant to be touched, turned and manipulated, but, at the same time, showing that the results of doing so are not the wonderful ones one would expect.
To make the two projections we create a sequence of drawings. They both started with the same undefined image which is slowly built by adding layers of painting. We did the paintings and took photos of them in different stages to create a sense of changing nature keeping the same point of view. To include people over the backgrounds we decided to draw abstract black silhouettes attached to the landscapes and in relation to them, but clearly superposed, trying to play with its positions in relation to the mirror grid.
We expect that the act of turning mirrors around will be encouraged when the audience starts to see parts of the other projection (figure 2) interfering the calmed story on the wall (figure 1).
Figure 1: Group 4; Wall Projection – nature; 2018; University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield.
Figure 2: Group 4; Mirror Projection – human triumph; 2018; University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield.
