Projection Mapping

Projection Mapping is a technology that has been around for a few decades but is quickly picking up popularity now. It is a popular feature used by modern-day artists and musicians. The "trippy" effect that these projections can create are perfect for modern-day DJ's and are used regularly at there concerts.

The style used in the concerts is often abstract blank white shapes that have different protectors pointed at different areas and then a light show is designed around that. 

The Projection Mapping is also used for different forms of a sculpture like art. 

 

Flying Lotus is an artist that uses these projectors and software, only he uses it a little differently.  He is a DJ and he sets up a series of scrims (somewhat transparent curtains) around him in order to create a 3D appearance of his concert show. 

One software for projection mapping is  MadMapper. This software is a simple any easy to learn program that allows its user to explore the quickly growing interest related to projection mapping. 

These programs are growing very fast and are attracting a lot of attention. If it is a field you are interested in, find out more: Click Here

 

Layer 3 and Flying Lotus

      It is hard to pinpoint a genre to throw music producer Flying Lotus into.  His music takes a little bit from everything, whether it's jazz, hip hop, electronica, you name it.  Over the past few years he has been met with more and more acclaim from fans and critics alike and has had the opportunity to work with other artists like Radiohead and Erykah Badu.

      Very recently he has launched a unique visual experience to coincide with his music performances.  It is called Layer 3, which is a fitting name for a stage setup which uses just that- three layers.  Layer one is a transparent screen with visual overlays. the second is Flying Lotus and his musical equipment and the third layer is a background with more visual effects.  The two visual layers are separately controlled by two different VJs who try to use their layers together to make an interesting tandem act.  Flying Lotus says that the animations were inspired by one of his favorite movies, 2001: Space Odyssey.  I have never seen Flying Lotus live before, but if I ever have the opportunity I will want to see him especially because of this Layer 3 system.



Flying Lotus 'Layer 3' – A Red Bull Music Academy Film from Red Bull Music Academy on Vimeo.

V Squared Labs

      One of the things I am most passionate about in my life is electronic dance music (EDM).  Ever since I was little I have loved its particular sound.  Nearly two years ago I began DJing as a hobby and as a way to make money on the side.  Recently I have acquired a copy of Ableton and now I am learning how to produce this genre of music.  It would be a dream career for me to be a DJ and producer who gets to travel around the world and spin for masses of people.

      Since taking this class, I have discovered a new interest of mine.  Most of the EDM events feature some sort of lighting and visual effects.  In my opinion, poor visuals will break a DJs performance while decent to superb visuals will only serve to make their set better.  I personally think a really fun and exciting career would be to work for a company that has to design all of these background visuals.  One company I find to be top notch and would be fantastic to work for is V Squared Labs.

     V Squared Labs assembles both the visuals and the actual structures on stage.  They work with many of the best artists in not just EDM but in all of today's biggest music genres.  Here's an example of their work below.



V Squared Labs Reel from V Squared Labs Inc. on Vimeo.

      Of all of the set designs they show in that video I find Amon Tobin's ISAM the most incredible.  I wonder how long it takes to produce all of these things!  I would not be surprised if it took much longer to make the actual visual than it does to build the on-stage construct.