Meld recreates Mt. Vesuvius eruption on the ROM's Facade for the launch of Pompeii: In the Shadow of the Volcano
3D Design, Animaiton
Toronto
Royal Ontario Museum
2015
Projection Mapping a Volcano
In anticipation of the Royal Ontario Museum’s upcoming Pompeii exhibit, Meld was selected to recreate the tale of Mt. Vesuvius’s eruption. The project aimed to set a dramatic prelude to the exhibit by using the ROM’s Crystal facade as a dynamic canvas for projection mapping.
Five nights of volcanic projection
The goal of the project was to design an enthralling display that would imitate the catastrophic eruption that had buried Pompeii. The projections were scheduled to be showcased every night for five days leading up to the exhibit's launch, which coincided with the five days of ash raining down on Pompeii.
Out of home and in exhibit
The multi-faceted approach to creating a stunning visual representation of the power of Vesuvius consisted of an accurate model of Mt. Vesuvius and fluid simulation for the flow of ash and the final eruption. Five looping projections were created for the five-day display on the facade showcasing smoldering effects culminating in a volcanic explosion synchronized with the opening-day fireworks.
Additionally, an animation depicting the pyroclastic flow was developed for the interior exhibit, providing a hauntingly beautiful backdrop to Pompeii's artifacts. This further immersed visitors in the historic event.
