Let there be light

Wallern a.d. Trattnach (Austria), 10 December 2024 – The PIXERA media server by AV Stumpfl is the backbone of PROJEKTIL’s latest EONARIUM tour, an immersive projection mapping project that merges digital artistry with historic architecture across 30 iconic churches and cultural sites in Europe. AV Stumpfl’s real-time media processing, compositing and management system seamlessly handles the stunning visuals that bring these unique and sacred spaces to life, transforming each venue into a canvas of light and sound.

The EONARIUM Experiences tour, organised by the Zurich-based PROJEKTIL artist collective, comprises a series of immersive 360° light and sound shows in historic churches across Europe. Each 30- to 45-minute experience transforms the sacred places with digital artistry, transporting audiences into magnificent visual journeys that honour both the locations and the art. 

By projecting visuals onto some of Europe’s most treasured buildings, in cities including Madrid, Liverpool, Hamburg, Marseille, Geneva and Lyon, the tour brings fresh perspectives to classic spaces like the 19th-century Church of St John (Johanneskirche) in Stuttgart. Utilising PIXERA’s advanced media server technology, PROJEKTIL crafts an immersive experience that respects each building’s unique character while captivating audiences with dynamic storytelling.

“Our goal with the project is to create a transformative experience that enhance these spaces with digital art,” says Partik Rost, technical director at PROJEKTIL. “The international tour seamlessly integrated historical architecture with immersive experiences, covering over 30 cities across Europe and the US.” Rost joined PROJEKTIL, an internationally renowned artist collective from Zurich, at the beginning of this year. The team includes visual artists, musicians, programmers and designers who create immersive experiences at the intersection of art and technology. 

AV Stumpfl’s powerful PIXERA gen 2 media servers, PIXERA One Gen 2 Director and PIXERA Two Gen 2 Octo models provide the user-friendly interface and performance necessary for the EONARIUM Experiences tour’s intricate AV setups. 

For each installation the PROJEKTIL team installs 8–16 projectors, managed by PIXERA. Rost explains: “PIXERA plays a crucial role in managing and synchronising these projectors, ensuring visuals that adapt to the unique structure of each space, creating an integrated and captivating experience.” 

PROJEKTIL selected PIXERA media server for its availability and strong reputation among AV technicians worldwide. Rost adds: “PIXERA is distributed by the Lang Group, with whom we have a close partnership with and can rely on for support, which made PIXERA the natural choice for the project.”

The content, created in-house by PROJEKTIL, features visuals that depict the earth’s formation, from cosmic chaos to thriving natural landscapes, using vibrant colours, abstracts shapes and dynamic transitions. The projection mapping show combines these elements with the sound, provided by d&b audiotechnik to create a multi-sensory experience that feels both cosmic and intimate for the audience.
 
To meet the demands of this extensive project, PROJEKTIL trained nine PIXERA Operators many of whom were new to the platform, with direct support from AV Stumpfl. This hands-on experience and training allowed the team to become proficient with the media server quickly, ensuring smooth operations for each upcoming event.
 
“PIXERA’s support team at AV Stumpfl has been instrumental,” enthuses Rost. “The team provided us with training, on-the-ground troubleshooting and their responsiveness and expertise have made them a key partner for us.”

Each EONARIUM installation is designed as a temporary experience, typically lasting two to four months, before moving to the next city. The tour is currently in Zurich. “The end result is fantastic, and we are all very happy with it,” concludes Rost, underscoring the success of the event so far. 

Following EONARIUM’s ongoing success, PROJEKTIL plans to launch DAIA (Digital And Immersive Art by PROJEKTIL), a permanent initiative that will offer year-round immersive installations in select locations. With strategic projects in collaboration with Zurich Zoo and other esteemed partners, DAIA is fully active in both Zurich and Geneva, driving the expansion of PROJEKTIL's digital art reach. PIXERA continues to be a fundamental part of the company’s AV setup, ensuring unparalleled immersive experiences across all venues.