In 2019, the Singapore National Museum launched an ambitious immersive exhibition to commemorate the region’s bicentennial history. STARNO had the privilege of working alongside Fly Studio, who brought us onto the project to help realize this historical journey.
Under their direction, our team was entrusted with the creation of 9 massive digital environments illustrating the voyage of British explorer James Cook through the Indonesian archipelago. The project required a delicate balance of technical precision and artistic flair, as we produced animated scenery for a fully immersive room where video was projected across three walls simultaneously.
THE ARTISTIC APPROACH:
The creative brief called for a departure from traditional 3D realism, opting instead for a "painterly" aesthetic. We approached each shot as a moving painting, blending digital matte painting techniques with the texture and mood of 18th-century maritime art.
THE TECHNICAL FEAT:
To ensure the projection remained crisp for museum visitors standing just inches from the walls, every environment was crafted at a staggering resolution of over 15,000 pixels wide. The result was a seamless, wrapping experience that allowed the audience to get lost in the details of the lush Indonesian landscapes and historical fleets.
The exhibition retraces the steps of Captain James Cook and other early explorers as they navigated the treacherous but vibrant waters of the East Indies. The storyline immerses visitors in the late 18th century, showcasing the biodiversity, the cultural encounters, and the sheer scale of the Indonesian landscape as seen through the eyes of European explorers before their eventual arrival in Singapore.
The STARNO Creative Team
Fly Studio
Museum Exhibition / Immersive Projection – 2019