Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Animating a Tapestry

If you go to the Landesmuseum Zurich, they have a part of their exhibit on textiles that is incredibly innovative and makes you stop and understand the piece.  I have to admit that I am not that much of a tapestry fan; it is a narrow set of techniques and not my favorite look.  But this exhibit made even my husband sit and listen to the entire description of the piece which was over five minutes long!

It starts with a bench with recessed sets of headphones with narration available in multiple languages.   You sit and watch the four projectors play an animation of light on top of the tapestry.  Having the areas highlighted and moving is really fantastic and can significantly enhance the discussion on the headphones.  I loved it!  More museums should consider this type of effect for large objects with complicated storyline or symbols.  Of course I had many questions - like light levels and protection of the dyes.  But I am sure they had done the trade-offs and it would be interesting to understand.  I haven't ever seen so many people engaged in a tapestry - so it was working!


Projectors beaming onto the tapestry

Animation playing on the tapestry.  The lights not only highlight the areas discussed, but move as well so it looks like water is coming out of the fountain, etc.  



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