Beamuse Designs

Imagine stepping into space where you don’t just hear the stories, but you feel them. Here, light, movement, and tradition come together to create an unmatched sensory experience. Students in their final semester of the Diploma in Multimedia with Animation Design (DIMA) at INTI Center of Art and Design (ICAD, INTI International College Subang) made this discovery. They had this realization during their visit to the Twilight Immersive Journey by REXPERIENCE. Located in the hub of the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur, “Rex Cinema,” once known for its film showings, has transitioned. It is now a community and cultural hub – REXKL. The space presents the transformative power of projection mapping. This feature serves not just as a visual treat but also as an educational touchstone for students. They are eager to apply these techniques to their own creative journey.

REXKL was once known as a historical site of one of the country’s first theaters. The original REX Theater first opened its doors on 28th July 1947 and was then operated by the Shaw Brothers. Unfortunately, in 1972 the building caught fire and burned down. GSC, then known as Golden Communications, took it over in 1976. It became the first cinema in Malaysia to have a digital sound processor system (DTS). This occurred with the release of ‘Jurassic Park’. Unfortunately, after two decades as the most popular cinema of its time, a fire destroyed the building again. It finally ceased operations on 5th November 2002. Over the years, it experienced ups and downs. In 2007, it was converted from a cinema to a backpackers hotel named Red Dragon Hostel. The building suffered another fire in the same year. It was revived in 2018 as an art and cultural center known as REXKL. Now, it hosts many community building and creative events. REXKL is catching up with time. It aligns with the current trends in season. REXKL introduces an immersive digital art gallery on her first floor – REXPERIENCE. In the expansive main hall that spans 8,800sqf, it brings to life a revolutionary traditional art viewing experience. This is achieved through the use of new and immersive cutting edge technological tools and systems.

The REXPERIENCE (RXP)

Taking a step into the reconditioned cinema hall was a breathtaking experience. The layout has been redeveloped. This allows visitors to inhale an interactive experience of light and sound. The cinema hall stretches from floor to ceiling. It has been transformed into an environmental corner. The space is fitted with projectors above and on the walls. Speakers engage her viewers with the astounding sound and music compositing. Movement sensors enhance the interactive experience. They transform her walls from a blank canvas to a colorful and storytelling experience.

The immersive setup showed the potential of venue design to enhance storytelling. This is an essential lesson for students. They should consider how to curate spaces for greatest impact in their upcoming and future works. As the show begun its running, the feeling felt as though walking into a living storybook. We see this clearly. The students begun to notice how the projection on the floor fluidly mutated. It animated with their movements.

Stories unfolded: the Art of Projection Mapping

Three unique storytelling experiences are showcased this time under the titular TWILIGHT. The first is “Hanya Batik,” a narration through the eyes of a batik artist with visuals by Arif Rafhan. This is followed by “Geometry of Emotions” by Fabien Bauchard and Matthieu Pernaud with the support of Institut Français. Finally, “Escape” by Colas Fiszman and Laurent Delforge is presented in collaboration with RXP. Interestingly, RXP offers Live Performance choice and Regular Show choice. The students were signed on for the regular shows. A live dancer differentiated the two experiences. The dancer wore a special suit with motion detectors. These detectors captured and transmitted the movements into the “Escape” show. It was unfortunate that this experience was something not capable of being visualized during the regular show.

‘Hanya Batik’, a living tapestry of tradition and history

‘Hanya Batik’ showcased how heritage and modernity could coexist. As the light show begun, we embarked on a journey through Malaysia’s identity. It highlighted historical and contemporary narratives. Scenes ranged from the Malaccan Sultanate’s establishment to today’s dynamic urban life in Malaysia. Artists Arif Barhan, Bo Amir Iqram, Fahmi Hosnan and Ian Kit created and directed the show. The batik motifs charm audiences by bridging the traditional and modernization. This offers a visual celebration of cultural resilience as the narrative showcases influential Malaysian figures. Each frame illustrates a layer of authenticity. It highlights some Malaysian icons, like the Wau, hornbill, rafflesia, and hibiscus. This showcases a sense of continuity.

Overall, this segment encouraged students to think about how traditional crafts can inspire fresh, innovative animation techniques. The intricate use of batik motifs symbolized the importance of embracing cultural identity within design. It offered a clear takeaway: one does not need to look far to find inspiration. Inspiration can be rooted in one’s surroundings.

‘Geometry of Emotions’, visualizing emotions through geometry

Crafted by Fabien Bouchard (Parse/Error) and Matthieu Pernaud, with the Institut Français’s support, it presented a real-time interactive experience. This segment pushed the boundaries of engagement. It allowed the audience’s presence to influence the projections. This created a responsive dance of light and sound. For students, the piece showed how digital interactivity evokes emotions. It blended geometric precision with organic movement. This questioned the relationship between human feelings and technology. Additionally, the dynamic element demonstrated how immersive media can make a story feel more personal. Personally, it made it more impactful.

By observing how real-time interaction was handled with seamless projection and sound, they learned new ideas. The students soon realized that such technology can be incorporated into their college projects. Furthermore, they considered using tools that track audience movements or changes in the environment.

‘Escape’, the play digital tools and virtual movements with daily life

In the last segment, ‘Escape’ invites the viewers to witness the impact of digital tools. It encourages them to think about virtual environments in daily life. The piece used advanced choreography with projection mapping. Unfortunately, the students were unable to view it due to the booking timing. This audiovisual experience by Colas Fiszman (Tyrell Studio) and Laurent Delforge (NONE Studio) presented a striking commentary on how modern culture shapes personal identity. It urged the audience to reconsider how their digital footprints affect them. As it showcased arrayed themes of technology, identity, and self-reflection.

Employing tools like TouchDesigner and Unreal Engine, it synchronised dance, electronic music, and generative projections to create an arresting, multi-sensory display.

This performance was a masterclass for students. It integrated choreography and projection mapping. It encouraged them to think about using digital tools to tell profound, human-centred stories. The piece integrated advanced choreography with projection mapping. It presented a striking commentary. Hence this commentary focused on how modern culture shapes personal identity.

The Creative Learning Curve

In general, the Twilight Immersive Journey sets an example. It shows how to generate and sustain interest through the thoughtful marriage of design elements. Be it a narrated historical storytelling like ‘Hanya Batik’ to the responsive and colour-tripping ‘Geometry of Emotions’ or the thought-provoking ‘Escape’ – each story maintained a seamless flow. It brought to students the importance of integrating audio-visual elements to create a unified yet captivating experience for the audience.

This experience has enlighten the students to think beyond the traditional norms of storytelling and encourages the use of new technologies. Taking time to deconstruct each segment, the show serves as a blueprint of sorts. A future for design education where students can draw inspiration to create their own immersive experience.

The Twilight Immersive Journey at REXKL highlights the boundless potential of projection mapping and underscores REXKL’s remarkable evolution. From its roots as a historic cinema hall to its current role as a dynamic creative hub, REXKL bridges heritage and innovation, offering a space where tradition meets cutting-edge storytelling.

For students and educators, this experience inspires a deeper exploration of how technology and narrative can coexist, serving as a catalyst for creativity and innovation in their own work. Events like these solidify REXKL’s role as a beacon of cultural and artistic growth in Malaysia. They foster collaboration and spark new ideas for the future.