How can projection mapping enhance the interplay of static elements in an immersive art installation?

Glühwürmchen was conceived as a pilot project to test the feasibility of projecting animated sequences onto Yadegar Asisi's 360° panoramic installation, Carolas Garten. In this panoramic artwork, Asisi presents an extraordinary perspective on the life cycles of nature and explores the notions of microcosm and macrocosm, making the viewer feel both tiny and connected to the vastness of life.

Building on this theme, Glühwürmchen introduced a new layer of content by projecting an animated sequence of fireflies fluttering in the garden alongside stars twinkling in the night sky. The concept relies on the analogy between the microcosm of a garden and the macrocosm of the universe—suggesting that life, regardless of scale, shares a common light.

The firefly animations were crafted using a pre-rigged 3D model (provided by a third party), while the motion graphics for the fireflies and stars were developed in-house using After Effects and TouchDesigner. The result was an addition to the panoramic scene, where projection mapping breathed life into the installation's exploration of scale and light. The project was showcased at the Panometer Leipzig during the Spring of 2021.