UCOL Te Pūkenga lecturer Phillip Andrews creates a projection mapping show for Palmerston North

UCOL senior design lecturer Phillip Andrews is bringing a range of artists' work together for HIGH-LIGHT - Projection Mapping Theatre.

A projection mapping show promises to treat audiences to a unique augmented reality experience, while also showcasing Manawatū artists.

HIGH-LIGHT - Projection Mapping Theatre, created by UCOL Te Pūkenga senior design lecturer Phillip Andrews, will run at Globe Theatre from August 17 to 19.

HIGH-LIGHT will combine animation, film, photography, illustration, AI-generated images and music into a cinematic experience where images will pop out at the audience in 3D.

Images will be projected onto a purpose-designed set made from Corflute and Hologauze, a highly reflective fabric that supports 3D projection. The set measures nine metres wide and three metres high, and incorporates shapes and angles that are optimal for projection mapping.

“I played around with a lot of designs for the set,” Andrews says. “The end design allows us to make images look like they’re on a flat screen and, at other times, pop out at the audience.”

Palmerston North City Council’s events department has loaned two projectors for the show, which will be pumping out 32,000 lumens of light.

“The city council has these amazing projectors, but what they need is content creators to make use of them. The aim of the show is to provide an opportunity for local artists to show off their work in a new and exciting way,” Andrews says.

HIGH-LIGHT refers to the powerful projectors used in the show, as well as the show’s purpose of highlighting established and immerging artists from Manawatū.

The show will feature the work of 23 artists who are either based in Manawatū or have connections to the region. Many of the artists have either studied or taught at UCOL.

Among the UCOL graduates involved is Mikal Carter, aka SwiftMantis, who has built a reputation for his hyper-realistic murals. One of his most notable murals is the three-storey portrait of a stray cat, which he painted on the back of the Grand Hotel building in central Palmerston North.

“I’ve been sitting on a lot of great drone footage from my mural work over the past few years, and thought HIGH-LIGHT would be a great opportunity to put it all together in a show reel,” Carter says.

“I’m excited to see the projection mapping in action. Phill has such a vibrant creative energy, so I already know it is going to be amazing.”

All of the artists will be paid for their contribution thanks to funding from Earle Creativity Trust.

HIGH-LIGHT is doubling as a research output for Andrews, who has been exploring the possibilities of projection mapping for the past decade.

“As a teacher, it’s my job to keep up with the latest trends in design and learn how to use new technology. Being able to pass on these skills and knowledge to our Bachelor of Creative Media learners ensures that they keep pushing boundaries and have the tools to make an impact in the industry when they graduate.”

Other UCOL graduates involved are Victoria White (3D animator/illustrator), Philip Sue (illustrator), Niamh Mora (videographer), Meshach Kirifi (illustrator), and Alistair Thom (videographer).

Other UCOL staff involved are musician Kane Parsons, video artist Dan West, and photographer Leanne Miller.

Musicians Callum Coacher, Carson Taare, Hayden Lauridson, Nathan Lauridson, and Jonathan Couper-Smatt have contributed work to the show.

The Details

What: HIGH-LIGHT - Projection Mapping Theatre

When: August 17–19, 7pm

Where: Globe Theatre

Tickets: $6, from the venue