Barco

Feb. 6, 2023 - Barco 4K laser projectors and image processor have been selected for the "1minute Projection Mapping Competition". This event is one of the world's largest international projection mapping competitions held as part of TOKYO LIGHTS 2022 and organized by Projection Mapping Association of Japan (PMAJ).

Tokyo Lights 2022: Twelve UDX 4K projectors, two UDM 4K projectors, and one E2 image processor were deployed

"TOKYO LIGHTS turns on the light of hope and sends a message to the future from Tokyo, the world's leading international city." says Michiyuki Ishita, Producer of TOKYO LIGHTS 2022. "The aim of the project is to increase Tokyo's presence by revitalizing night entertainment and promoting the city. The LIGHTS in the name TOKYO LIGHTS contains several meanings – a vision showing future possibilities, the human talent that will carry us into the future, and the community that they form – and our goal is to bring together a variety of colors of light to create a festival of light befitting of Tokyo."

Ell-tech Co., Ltd. was in charge of installing the imaging equipment for this event. Twelve UDX 4K projectors, two UDM 4K projectors, and one E2 image processor were deployed. 

A one-of-a-kind world view through international mappings

On the press day held prior to the event, projection mappings created by up-and-coming creators were projected onto the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, a nationally designated important cultural property. 

The opening show combined modern performances with traditional performing arts rooted in various parts of Japan, such as Kabuki, a symbol of Edo (old period of Japan), delivering entertainment like never before. The performances were beautifully interwoven to create a one-of-a-kind world view that skilfully expressed the past and present of Tokyo.

At the international competition that followed, creators from around the world presented their works created under the theme of "Life". This theme was open to various interpretations, not only from the individual viewpoint of the creators but also based on the background of their country and environment, providing a means to showcase the life of each country and express diverse senses of value. The symbolic Meiji Shrine Outer Garden was bathed in a spectrum of light.

This year, 251 works had been entered and their origins were from a record-breaking 55 countries and regions. 19 works were selected as finalists based on a comprehensive evaluation of the works' originality, novelty, production techniques, and the construction of concepts for the theme. In the end, "Elemental constructions" by EPER DIGITAL from Hungary won the Grand Prix.  

Reproduce and display the works accurately as the creators envision.

Michiyuki Ishita, Producer of TOKYO LIGHTS 2022 adds: "We tried to faithfully reproduce on-site what the creators envisioned down to the smallest detail, such as color, contrast, and three-dimensionality, and to convey this correctly to the audience. Through this quality assurance, we are confident that 1minute Projection Mapping Competition is one of the best international projection mapping competitions in the world."

"We also believe that the works gathered here will serve to further establish the culture of projection mapping. In addition, new synergies may emerge, and equipment and technologies that have not yet been imagined may appear. We can also look forward to potential expansion in the range of expressions. There are inevitably differences between the direction sought by video creators and the expressions they want to produce, but we think that by actively embracing each respective sense of value, new values and expressions will be born."