OPAL

The sound design evokes emotions with a musical piece inspired by OPAL’s visual aesthetic. The enveloping and generative soundscape is created by a soundtrack that is randomly generated by code, while specific sounds are triggered when the flashlight beam touches certain visual textures. To enhance immersion, a spatial sound design was produced, where each sound comes from a different location in space based on its position in the visuals, and the visual brightness in both the digital and physical space reacts in real time to certain sound effects.

This integrated approach results in a ‘chain reaction of the senses,’ as participants actively shape their experience. The flashlight becomes a musical instrument, influencing the soundtrack and fostering a meditative state. The dynamic interplay between light, visuals, and sound evokes curiosity and discovery, offering a contemplative pause within an iridescent, interconnected universe.

OPAL’s visual design is central to its immersive, contemplative experience, guiding participants through a journey from the microscopic to the macroscopic. The user experience begins with an initial observation of a miniature world, housed within an enclosed space. This introduces the participants to a dynamic environment of shifting, colorful micro-organisms, immediately drawing focus to the infinitesimal.

Upon moving beyond this initial stage, participants encounter the macroscopic realm, where the previously observed microscopic elements are revealed at an expanded scale. Combining the mineral, plant, and technological worlds, this digital artwork highlights the power of connections within an imaginary ecosystem.This transition fosters a sense of discovery, allowing users to actively engage with and influence this sensitive ecosystem through the use of custom interactive flashlights.

The visual experience is designed to be deeply responsive; the flashlights trigger reactions within the visual landscape, causing organic materials to emerge and evolve. This process, facilitated by Gentilhomme’s bespoke 3D tracking software, creates a visually dynamic environment where ‘everything is connected.’ The result is a visually driven journey that contributes significantly to the installation’s goal of providing a meditative, emotionally resonant experience.

OPAL is an interactive multiplayer installation that explores the relationship of the micro, macro and the inbetween. Equipped with a custom designed interactive flashlight, participants unveil an organic universe that takes them into an almost meditative state. In this immersive experience, the visual and musical ambiance influence one another and form a singular ecosystem, sensitive to movement and light.

The word “opal” refers to the energy, interconnectivity and iridescence of the world created for the experience, somewhere between outer space and underwater, and universes both known and unknown. It was designed to awaken curiosity, encourage discovery, and evoke emotion. Our desire was to transform audiences into active participants, while offering them a contemplative pause.

What started as an R&D project in the Gentilhomme LAB took on a life of its own, rapidly transforming into a scalable multi-user interactive experience. Using interactive flashlights, participants illuminate the on-screen visuals, which influences the soundtrack, like a musical instrument, resulting in a chain reaction of the senses. From a technological perspective, the detectable flashlights leverage Gentilhomme’s bespoke tracking software. What makes them particularly innovative is their ability to be individually tracked in 3D across three axes, enhancing the overall realism of the experience. The installation is significantly scalable and can accommodate various venues, screen sizes, while simultaneous tracking numerous devices.

The main challenge was developing custom-made interactive flashlights in-house, to enable 3D tracking and enhance realism. To reduce battery management, the team removed sensors from the flashlights, maintaining the effects of a connected object without the costs. This streamlined deployment, minimized recharging, and enhanced user experience. Moreover, since the tracking system, Optitrack, relies on sensor-equipped devices, the team had to ‘hack’ the system to enable the detection of the sensor-less custom-made flashlights.

Additionally, its design is easily customizable, allowing for integration into various objects to suit the specific themes of future installations, offering a highly adaptable solution for interactive environments.

OPAL provides a distinct interactive experience that we believe warrants the MONDO DR Award. It moves beyond typical installations by engaging audiences directly, inviting them to participate in a meditative, reactive environment. The project’s custom 3D tracking software enables precise interaction using custom-made flashlights, enhancing the realism of the experience. Its adaptable design allows for implementation in various spaces, increasing its accessibility.

The project effectively combines visual art, sound, and technology to create a cohesive, immersive environment that offers participants a contemplative pause from the frenetic rhythms of the outside world. In contrast to passive viewing, OPAL emphasizes active participation but in a meditative way, by stimulating the senses and fostering a sense of discovery.

The project’s evolution from an R&D internal project to a scalable installation demonstrates its potential for broader application. Its ability to engage with its participants, driven by custom-developed technology, is what we believe distinguishes OPAL.