Qatar 2022 / Mesmerising Projection Mapping Artworks for the Ministry of Interior

Five plus two amazing artworks on two spectacular buildings in Qatar: the Ministry of Interior and the National Archive. 205 people worked on the study, preparation, and execution of the project. A wide variety of video artists, video programmers, IT specialists, audio specialists, and production people worked for 2 months to make this fantastic production happen.

The Ministry of Interior projection mapping installation consisted of 40 latest generation 32k and 40k lumen 4K resolution projectors. This created a total of 14080000 lux. The total addressable pixel resolution of the installation was a whopping 369 million pixels!

To ensure the best possible experience, the audio system had to be the best. 5 LA acoustics line array systems produced more than 120dB at a distance of 200 meters and crossing the busy street in front of the Ministry.

The NA projection mapping installation consisted of 30 latest generation 35k lumen 4K resolution projectors, while for the audio, 2LA acoustics line array systems produced more than 120dB at a distance of 120 meters.

To have the best possible redundant system, all projectors were installed in air-conditioned projection containers. To ensure safe operation, all power installations, projectors, and servers were set up to be redundant.

Some numbers:

Total technical crew: 205, approx. 1,000 m2 of fabric used, 200m fencing, 350m of yellow yack. More than 150+ permits, 2000+ of generator hours, 135,000+ liters of diesel, 4 TPS, 40+ ACs, 500m of power cables, 10+ km of data and video cables, 10 containers.

For the content part, 5 teams in 5 countries on 2 continents worked more than 10,000 hours to produce 7 artworks with 45 scenes, altogether 32 minutes of content, including 2 artworks of 7 minutes of the most creative, amazing stories for the Qatar National Day.

The Blocks // The Building Blocks of Qatari Culture with Derengő Animation Studio

The central theme of the show is the journey from the old to the new through the culture of Qatar, starting slowly from the ancient resource of light, the Sun, with two streaks of light guiding us through the ages to modern day, increasing in both tempo and energy before the climatic crescendo. The cultural motifs together with the music of a live orchestra with traditional Qatari instruments and sounds represent the richness of Qatari culture, and the architecture of the modern stadiums show how amazingly fast has Qatar developed while building an empire on its traditions. From old to new – from ancient traditions to hosting one of the most important sports events of the world.

The World in a Grain of Sand // The Energy of the Desert with Las Romeras

The central theme for the show is the energy of the desert with elements coming to life and forming through sand. Sand is a powerful force of nature, a superpower that transforms Qatar from its traditions into the modern-day empire that it is today. Sand particles are vibrating, dancing, and swirling rhythmically with the music to create patterns and forms. Animals, fossils, and dhows, iconic architecture, and cultural buildings unique to Qatar emerge from the desert. With the power of sand, they transform to the modern stadiums housing one of the most important sports events of the world in 2022.

The Sand Pearl // The Natural Elements of Qatar with Mindscape Studio

The central theme of the show is the natural elements of Qatar. The story is inspired by the simple beginnings, strength, and hardships of Qatar that transformed it to the place it is today. We call it The Sand Pearl because of Qatar’s tradition of pearl trade, but also because it takes years of patience and mastery for a pearl to form from the sand. Qatar, with its shining evolution shaped by time and sand, truly is the Sand Pearl. The story takes the viewer on a journey of all the magic, mystery, and beauty Qatar has to offer. It’s a journey through history, dunes of sand, fascinating flora and fauna, and the futuristic architecture we see today – to the stadiums hosting one of the most important sports events of the world.

The Sand of Light // The Beacons of Light with Flightgraf

The theme of the show is guiding lights and navigation. Nomadic people of the Qatari region used the stars as a tool to navigate at night – the Middle East is the birthplace of astronomy. A falcon made of constellations and stars flies above Qatar, eventually transforming into a football, and all the stars are descending on Qatar and the Lusail Stadium – an allegory for one of the most important sports events of the world traveling to the Middle East for the first time, and the story of teams and fans finding their way to Qatar.

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