"Vectorial Elevation" - Massive Digital Art Installation
The Olympic organizing committee's "Cultural Olympiad" produced a wide range of performances and artworks across Vancouver. Panther was asked to take on production of Vectorial Elevation, a massive, interactive digital artwork spanning over a million square feet and reaching five miles into the sky!
Conceived by noted Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Vectorial Elevation consists of twenty enormous robotic spotlights (Syncrolite XL-10s, for those keeping score), each producing a 10,000-watt beam of pure white light reaching over five miles into the sky. The lights are tied through a wireless DMX signal path to a custom-built control system, designed by the artist, which in turn is driven by an online 3D application which allows Internet users from across the globe to build and submit designs which are rendered live in the sky over Vancouver.Panther was responsible for integrating Vectorial Elevation into two of Vancouver's carefully protected waterfront parks, including working with the artist and City and Parks Board officials to ensure that the piece did not impact a rare breeding pair of bald eagles nesting near the installation. As well, we developed a detailed plan with the City's electrical engineers to connect the installation to the City's hydro power grid, removing any need for generator power and reducing the piece's carbon footprint drastically.
In addition to the nearly 900,000 online participants, Vectorial Elevation instantly became the centerpiece of the Vancouver skyline throughout the Olympics and attracted large crowds every night; though the installation lasted only a month, we still receive comments from local residents asking for it to be made permanent!