Illuminating the Story of the Forest

Panasonic recently supplied and installed 59 sets of PT-RZ670BE SOLID SHINE Laser projectors (6,500 lm WUXGA) to National Museum of Singapore. In one of the largest deployments ever for a single museum venue, the projectors mapped images on a dome ceiling and corridor to tell Story of the Forest, an interactive multi-media exhibition commissioned by National Museum of Singapore and created by Japanese artist collective teamLab. The exhibition has since attracted widespread attention and acclaim in the media.

Panasonic had a lot to consider when selecting a projector model to meet client requirements while delivering on teamLab’s concept. With no lamp or filter replacement for 20,000 hours, SOLID SHINE Laser presented a solution for reliable maintenance-free operation. As angled multi-screen projection was required, 360-degree mounting flexibility put laser ahead of lamp-based alternatives. Drawing on teamLab’s concept and on-site surveys, Panasonic proposed using its PT-RZ670 SOLID SHINE Laser projector. The unit balances high 6,500 lm brightness at WUXGA resolution with functions for complex mapping applications. Excellent on-site support gives Panasonic a crucial market advantage, and our technical team began designing a projection layout to suit the venue immediately. When considering projector positions, easy access and concealment from visitors were weighed against requisite picture quality. As the distance from wall to screen varied at every point along the long stretch of corridor, finding optimal positions for each unit was difficult. Engineers performed extensive simulation using Panasonic’s internal simulation software, and made frequent visits to the site to identify possible projection locations before deciding on a final layout proposal. After a demonstration, National Museum of Singapore was persuaded Panasonic SOLID SHINE Laser could deliver best performance at lower overall cost.