I recently came across the work of Japanese digital artist Nobumichi Asai, who is a master of the art of projected illusion. Much of his work is done on a grand scale, seemingly transforming a location through time and space such as the Yokohama Odyssey , which can be seen in the bottom video here. In it he takes an audience seated in an the basin of an old dockyard and takes them through time to old Yokohama and much more. Even on film it is quite stunning. I can’t imagine what the effect must be in person.
But just as stunning is his work on a much smaller scale. In the top video below, he transforms a models face with a sort of digital makeup, all just a projected illusion. The model is free to move her head as the projectors compensate seamlessly through a process called Omote Real Time Tracking. It’s a pretty stunning transformation and I can see this expanding onto the stage to allow for incredible effects on live performers. It’s an art that is technologically and aesthetically in polar opposition to what I do but it is remarkable and potentially beautiful nonetheless.
Take a look below or go to the site of Nobumichi Asai to see more of his work.
OMOTE / REAL-TIME FACE TRACKING & PROJECTION MAPPING. from something wonderful on Vimeo.
DOCKYARD 3D PROJECTION MAPPING / YOKOHAMA ODYSSEY from something wonderful on Vimeo.
Redtree Times 