Crater-Lab is developing a series of artistic research and works throughout the SPECTRAL years. Some are interests within the Lab members, others will be developed during the SCREEN residencies, and events and screenings related to SPECTRAL.

Starting from the idea of expanding light beyond or outside the screen and expanding the projection frame. Crater-Lab is planning to develop a modular and portable 360º Dome and Panorama in order to produce specific works for this screen or adapt works that were previously thought for this kind of screen setting. It is our impression that something as simple as a change of shape in the screen often makes some works impossible to develop or even impossible to be thought.

We call this DISCENTERED SCREENS.

Our main purposes are:

• To create a portable and a modular easy-to-mount large non-flat screens
• Research sustainable, ecological, even recycled materials for the screen
• To research different systems that can be mounted either indoor or outdoors
• To research and develop works on different systems based on different principles such as: tension, sizes, inflatables, etc.

During the development of the project we will explore portable and easy-to-mount large-scale panorama systems. In this period of time since the beginning of SPECTRAL, we have used a prototype designed for a 360º Panorama format. The sustaining system was a circle made with PVC tubes and hung with metal cables.

This first prototype was used in two projects presented in ALUD! Festival last November 2022 in Barcelona.

The projects that used the prototype were:

As part of ALUD! Festival last edition, Luis Macías together with Alfredo Costa Monteiro, presented EÓN SOLAR. An eight-hour long live performance scheduled to finish at dawn prepared for twelve slide projectors, four 16mm projectors and live electroacoustic music.

The performance is conceived for a 360º degree panorama. The work was thought in this occasion for a limited assistance of 40 people, who could attend both surrounding or immersively around the work throughout its entire duration.

This was the text on the hand-programme:

“What happens when our perception is in an intermediate state, between sleep and vigil? We are invaded by a state of hypnagogia or early state of sleep, conducive to creativity and also a privileged moment for interpretation and perception. For eight hours and until dawn, both the artists and the public will experience a particular physical state that will serve as a bridge between dream and reality, through a device with multiple perspectives and viewing angles, in an audio-visual journey to the threshold of consciousness, which promises to be unique. A specific event for the occasion, which proposes to spend the night between images and sounds. At dawn, and in a new act of coexistence, we will wake up to share a breakfast, which will bring us back to reality.”

The screen in this occasion was hanging onto the structure of the roof that is already set for live performances. The PVC tube structure was tied with cables and set up at approximately 2,8m height. The panorama was 25m long as a circumference, and a diameter of approximately 8m.

This work by the croatian filmmaker is both an artwork and a research dealing with transformation of a film projection into physical space, using mechanical means and physiological phenomena of afterimage and persistence of vision. It is seen in his own words as “an attempt to transform the planar space of movie screen into an endless cylinder of Grimoin-Sanson’s cinéorama by the means of mechanical rotation”. In this work, the Panorama that was designed offered an ideal format of this screening. Before this occasion the filmmaker could only test it on square locations or surfaces. The experience is thought to be continuous with no corners or angles, affirming this continuity concept that is central in this work. The prototype of the Panorama was used for the filmmaker’s performance in Barcelona last November 2022.

Things to improve and conclusions regarding the screen design would be:

• Improve the strength and stability of the structure without gaining much weight. It is important for us that the screen is portable
• Explore more possibilities regarding the screen materials. We tried organic cotton fabric which is heavy enough to remain steady and plain. Still we believe we can manage other better options.
• We had to test it three times until we finally successfully mounted it. First, we lacked enough tension, secondly we tried one only anchor point and the radius would work enough. Finally, it worked with cables pulling tensions to the outside like in some tents.
• As a next goal we wish to work on the idea of a single anchor point since it simplifies the mounting and could allow the screen to be mounted both indoor and outdoors. Perhaps with a central stick, similar to how a Circus tent is mounted. Also, we wish to suppress the side cables since the occupy space and mean more material to transport.

Within this year, we have been collaborating with Elisava University on implementing improvements based on the previous process conclusions. We began working on material research and structural possibilities, finally concluding that the best would be to work on predesigned materials, with a modular philosophy and easily customizable. We concluded after several meeting that the easiest point would be working with prefabricated aluminum profiles. The aims would be then calculating forces and weight as we were very concerned with its stability but also portability.

Structure design aims it to be easy to mount, therefore, all efforts would be focused on a single-point. First conclusions by the industrial designers stated that it would need a central column. As we didn't want it to disturb audience, decided on a 4x4cm profile. Radius would be 2x2cm profile.

Final weight would be 28kg non including Screen fabric weight.

As radius were 4m long, arms would tend to curve in order to reinforce them, we incorporated metal cables to produce tension and also decided to put arms in angle with a counterpoint, similar to an Umbrella. This compensated weights and made the whole structure more robust.

After correcting arms stability, first mounting consisted on arming the 8 radius and controlling stability with the central column. We concluded immediately that it was not enough stable either due to the length of the base (we needed it short and light as we wanted audience to be able to watch from inside) and also that the central column wasn't strong enough and would tend to bend depending on floor inclination. From this point on, we concluded only two solutions were possible.

1- Make central column stronger, therefore increase weight, expenses and also visually bigger and distracting for audience.

2- Stabilizing the structure with connection to the room roof or ceiling or any structure available using a metal cable.

After this version, we began working in design improvements, focusing on the development of a central piece that would hold the screen structure from the centre. This iece would also have the possibility to be a point of subjection for tensors to enhance resistance of the radius. Finally we had to take care of the circular profile that would hold the screen. After some material research we decided on a polyester profile, very light and flexible, 4mm wide and 4cm high, so it wouldn't bend. In order to adjust proper curve and adjustment for a correctly aligned perimeter, we designed 3d printed clips.

By the end of May we did last mounting with the actual prototype. We mounted it both with the central column and hanging without column. We did a test with 6 35mm slide projectors, set on a custom table designed for the screen. This table is 110cm high. It can fit six 35mm slide projectors and up to eight 16mm projectors.

CONCLUSIONS AND FINAL TASKS

- We could still reinforce with different profiles 4x2cm so bending would be corrected. This also would incrrease weight.

- We could change central column profile to 8x8cm

As final tasks, we are currently developing the whole inventory and mounting instructions and we are also about to buy a flightcase with wheels in order to be able to store and travel with the screen wherever requested. We would like to certify the screen by an engineer so it can be used in public institutions both for indoor and outdoor shows.

Right after summer 2024, the 360º Panoramic Screen was finished on its second complete protoype. It was presented to all partners in Alud! #4 edition at the end of October 2024.

For this update, several improvements were made:

- Finishing aluminum profile structure

- 3D Printing of custom parts for setting up perimeter.

- Research of most addecuate fabric for Screening

- Two buildign systems /central column and one point anchoring system.

- Setting up a security system to ensure safety.

Find here manual of the Screen finished as built on this phase.

360_projection_screen_building_guide_1_compressed-1-15-1.pdf

CONCLUSIONS AND FINAL TASKS:

We have built the screen in two different contexts, with only one anchoring point. Different projects have succesfully been presented. Therefore with last retouches to be done such as reinforcing the column with an 8x8cm profile. Also two arms will be done with 4×2 profiles so you hace 4x2x2cm profiles combined with 4x 4x2cm profiles.

Also calculations to make a flight-case to transport all parts and tools for it to be settled.

SPECTRAL is co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Commission.