This interactive museum installation was created at the request of "De Schat van Simpelveld," a museum in Simpelveld, the Netherlands, renowned for its liturgical garments, particularly chasubles. Handmade by the sisters of the monastery, these garments required considerable time and effort. The sisters lived a simple life dedicated to God and teaching underprivileged children, yet they produced eye-catching and vibrant works of art. This installation highlights the contrast between the sisters' mundane daily lives and the vibrant chasubles they crafted to support and educate the local poor children.
This installation features three wooden coat stands, each adorned with empty chasubles. Illuminated by two projectors—one on each side of the room—these chasubles come to life through projection mapping created in TouchDesigner. I filmed and edited visuals that are projected onto all six sides, effectively lighting up the front and back of each garment.
On one side, viewers experience the simple yet profound daily life of the sisters, presented in black and white. This footage takes them through a day in their lives and runs for approximately 14 minutes. Conversely, the other side showcases their vibrant works of art, highlighting the stark contrast between their everyday existence and the devotion they poured into their creations. This cycle lasts about 5 minutes. Since the durations of both cycles are different, visitors are less likely to see the same combinations of footage at the same time.
The design of the coat stands encourages visitors to navigate around and through them, revealing previously unseen aspects of the story. This interactive setup allows each visitor to choose which narrative resonates with them more—whether to engage with the colored visuals, the black-and-white footage, or a blend of both.