Ars Electronica Solutions shows “Die Welle” at the Gasometer Oberhausen

• More about Ars Electronica Solutions & “Die Welle” (The Wave)
• More about the exhibition “Planet Ozean” at Gasometer Oberhausen (DE)
• images via Flickr
• Press release as PDF

(Linz/Oberhausen, 20.3.2024) Seaweed sways calmly back and forth in the kelp forest, schools of fish glide elegantly through the waves, humpback whales approach in the background and soon attract everyone’s attention: “Die Welle” (The Wave), developed by Ars Electronica Solutions, is the highlight of the new “Planet Ozean” exhibition at the Gasometer Oberhausen. Lifelike animations on a projection surface of more than 1,200 square meters invite visitors to take an immersive dive into the underwater world.

„Die Welle“: Lifelike animations and new perspectives

The projection screen for the deep-sea animations consists of two parts: A vertical, 40-meter-high projection surface from the Upper Austrian company AV Stumpfl GmbH and an adjoining horizontal screen that is translucent. Both surfaces are projected by a total of seven Epson installation projectors from different perspectives – and create a special viewing experience with a resolution of 60 million pixels depending on the position in the room.

Only staged and animated scenes are shown, which are the result of creative processes; no documentary material. When visitors move under the horizontal screen (“Gaze”), they are immersed in the ocean and even have the opportunity to interact with specific content. Ars Electronica Solutions was responsible for the artistic direction of the concept and implementation in close collaboration with Nils Sparwasser, the consulting curator of the “Planet Ocean” exhibition.

Sound concept for the highest exhibition hall in Europe

It is not only the visual language that makes “Die Welle” (The Wave) special, but also its embedding in the industrial architecture of the Gasometer Oberhausen, the highest exhibition hall in Europe. Ars Electronica Solutions made use of the unique conditions of the storage facility: the impression is created that the surface of the sea merges seamlessly into the ceiling structure of the room. Parallel to the visual spectacle, new compositions by Rupert Huber create an immersive sound concept.

“Planet Ocean” is a permanent exhibition and can be visited in the Gasometer Oberhausen until December 30, 2024.

About Ars Electronica Solutions

Ars Electronica Solutions conceives, designs and implements interactive and multi-sensory worlds of experience – including public exhibitions, brand landscapes, trade fairs and events. State-of-the-art media technologies are used in a targeted manner to tell stories in a way that touches and inspires people.

About Gasometer Oberhausen

In the 20th century, the German Ruhr region was a hotspot of heavy industry – winding towers, coking plants and ironworks made up entire regions. In Oberhausen, located between Duisburg and Essen, the Gutehoffnungshütte dominated the cityscape.

Construction of the Gasometer began on the site in February 1927, and after just two years, Europe’s largest gas holder, 117.5 m high and 68 m in diameter, stood on the Rhine-Herne Canal. Since its decommissioning over 30 years ago and its rededication as Europe’s tallest and most unusual exhibition hall, it has become a landmark of the city of Oberhausen and an unmistakable symbol of an entire region.