The Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta is being transformed into a digital canvas thanks to a 3D mapping project by Mcast students. Johnathan Cilia finds out more.
Visiting Valletta is always something I look forward to. Maybe it is because I don’t work there and don’t have to deal with the traffic in the morning, but Valletta is Malta’s crown jewel for a reason.
As international as it’s going to get, while remaining Maltese to the core, the diverse areas, architecture and forward thinking grid pattern gives Valletta a unique feel in a country of many small, diverse towns and villages.
The outgoing year marks the 450th anniversary of the birth of Valletta, even though, technically, work didn’t really take off until 1566, one year later. Reflecting upon the events that brought about Valletta – an attempted invasion of the entire country and a major threat to the Maltese identity at the time – and how it has evolved over the past 450 years quickly makes you feel like Valletta has even more to offer than mere wine bars and hip events.
While there have been countless re-enactments showing the Great Siege of 1565 and various other battles and stories told and retold and much has been said of Valletta’s recent resurgence, this year will be the first time that Valletta’s story is told in 3D mapping form.
“We wanted to show Valletta throughout the years: how everything started and how it progressed, while showcasing contemporary Valletta today. By showing various architectural pieces and prominent figures that made an impact in Malta throughout the years, we wanted to tell Valletta’s story in a visual way,” says Manuel Bonnici. Manuel is part of a group of 32 Mcast students who, in collaboration with the Valletta 2018 Foundation, will be putting on a 3D visual show recreating parts of Valletta’s history and mapping it onto the Grandmaster’s Palace.
“Unlike previous years, where Christmas was the main theme of the projection, this year we took on the celebration of Valletta’s 450th year and are paying homage to those who erected this great city. It tells a story inspired by its context and we hope that with what we project people will have a newfound appreciation of our capital city,” he says.
For those who do now know what 3D mapping is, Manuel offers a basic explaination:“The technique involves the projection of an animation or film onto an object which is transformed completely into something else.”
Of course, this simple explanation doesn’t do justice to the transformation that will soon happen to the Grandmaster’s Palace.
The Palace is the perfect building for the visual history telling, the perfect embodiment of the Knights’ time in Malta. It is both dominating and severe, while having great properties for 3D mapping to display clearly on its exterior. After being transformed inside and outside by the various occupying powers throughout the years, it is now turn for the Mcast students to envision it.
“We are using the architecture as a canvas, to contextualise our message: that of celebrating the anniversary of Valletta. We are using the façade as a starting point and it will be a long lasting message throughout the performance, of the wealth of architecture the Knights left us.”
“Furthermore,” Manuel continues, “the recently developed St George’s Square allows viewers to appreciate the architecture of the Palace at a distance. It is also perfectly located just off Republic Street and serves as a good destination point for people to see our work. The Palace is a great backdrop because of its size and the story it stands to tell,” he points out.
The decision to focus on Malta’s history came about easily, through teamwork – a team of 32 students given ‘free rein’ with the Grandmaster’s Palace is always going to lead to some interesting ideas.
“It really can be said that this was a team effort. We were divided into groups according to our strengths and talents and we each took on a different responsibility. There was the 2D aspect, the actual concept, the visuals and the PR to take care of. However, we still aided each other and took on a cross-disciplinary approach,” he says.
The projection was launched last week and visitors to the city are already being treated to a new, young, yet historical take on Malta.
“Today is the last chance to see it before New Year’s Eve – on Friday it will be showcased one last time alongside the projection of the countdown,” Manuel says.
• Shows will take place today and on New Year’s Eve every half hour from 6pm until 10.30pm.