Christie helps bring Ascension to life inside Mumbai’s Afghan church
Christie helps bring Ascension to life inside Mumbai’s Afghan church
Christie projectors have been used to illuminate the interior of the historic Church of St John the Evangelist during the Mumbai Light Festival in August to create a visual spectacle for viewers. The show was presented by Floating Canvas Company (FCC) and Synergy Technologies, with Christie helping to showcase the projection mapping experience. Ascension transformed the inside of the 19th-century Gothic landmark into a sea of animated lighting and vibrant colours.
By using eight Jazz Series DWU2400-JS projectors, six HS Series D23WH-HS 1DLP laser projectors and a Griffyn 4K50-RGB pure laser projector, Synergy Technologies was able create the visual spectacle inside of Mumbai’s Afghan Church. The Griffyn 4K50-RGB and DWU2400-JS projectors were mounted on a truss at the rear of the church, with the D23WU-HS projectors installed along the church’s centre to project visuals across the vaulted ceilings.
“We wanted audiences to appreciate the beauty of the building while becoming immersed in a visual journey through light and colour,” said Chirag Patel, founder of Synergy Technologies. “The objective was never to overpower the architecture, but to work in harmony with it. We wanted audiences to appreciate the beauty of the building while becoming immersed in a visual journey through light and colour.”
Ascension marks the first time a projection mapping installation has been used inside a Grade I heritage structure in Mumbai. Patel said he was aware of the importance in respecting what the building represents. “Because the church remains an active place of worship, restraint was a key design consideration. Instead of filling every surface with constant motion, we allowed moments of pause and focused attention on individual details.”
Rather than presenting visuals on an exterior façade, the installation placed visitors at the centre of the story. Clouds, stars and drifting light moved across the church’s interior, drawing attention to features that are often overlooked.
“The successful realisation of Ascension inside one of Mumbai’s most treasured heritage landmarks underscores the versatility, brightness and colour performance of our projection technologies,” said Rishubh Nayar, pro AV sales director for India, Christie. “We are delighted that FCC trusted Christie solutions to bring this unique experience to life and create a memorable visual spectacle for festival audiences.”
