Sim/Nebula
Commissioned by Ceska Sporitelna, the oldest bank in the Czech Republic, for their 190th anniversary, Sim/Nebula was a large-scale video mapping performance that transformed the historic Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum into an immersive audio-visual experience. The performance featured the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Jiří Bělohlávek, whose masterful interpretation of Antonín Dvořák's compositions formed the foundation for this unique artistic dialogue. My contribution to this international collaboration of 11 visual artists centered on developing generative visual sequences that responded organically to the nuances of the orchestral performance, creating a seamless fusion between classical music tradition and contemporary digital expression.
Concept
Sim/Nebula explored the relationship between sonic and visual languages through real-time translation. By creating a system where orchestral elements directly influenced digital compositions, the project revealed hidden patterns in classical music while respecting its emotional depth and structural complexity. Rather than imposing contemporary visuals onto classical music, the approach sought genuine synthesis—where the visuals emerged from and enhanced the music's inherent qualities.
The performance created a dialogue between past and future, using the grand architecture of the Rudolfinum's Dvořák Hall as both canvas and participant in the visual narrative. The mapping extended beyond decoration to interpretation, with each visual element responding to specific musical motifs, tonal shifts, and rhythmic patterns. This created moments where the boundary between the physical building and projected imagery dissolved, allowing the architecture itself to become part of the musical expression.
My approach focused on generative algorithms that captured the textures and rhythms of the orchestra in abstract forms that evolved in response to the music's structure. This methodology emphasized not just synchronization but deeper synthesis—where each visual transformation was driven by corresponding shifts in the orchestral performance, creating a unified sensory field where sight and sound became interwoven elements of a singular artistic expression.
Technical Details
For my contribution to this collaborative performance, I developed a custom visual engine that analyzed the live orchestral performance in real-time. The system employed FFT-based audio analysis to map specific frequency ranges to different parameters of the generative visual system. This created responsive environments where the shapes, movements, and lighting effects directly correlated with musical elements—from the sweeping strings to percussive accents.
The projection design incorporated site-specific mapping techniques that embraced the hall's classical architecture. By precisely calibrating the projections to align with the venue's ornate details, columns, and contours, the system created the illusion that the physical structure was responding to the music. This approach required careful consideration of the hall's complex geometry and lighting conditions to ensure that the digital elements integrated seamlessly with the physical space.
The visual system maintained a balance between predetermined compositional frameworks and dynamic responsiveness. While the overall structure of the visual narrative was choreographed to align with the musical score, the moment-to-moment evolution of visual elements responded directly to the live performance. This created a flexible system that could accommodate the natural variations and interpretive nuances that distinguish live orchestral performances from recorded playback.
Throughout the 45-minute performance, the visual language evolved through different states that corresponded with the emotional journey of the music—from delicate, transparent geometries during quieter passages to complex, immersive environments during crescendos. This created a coherent visual narrative that enhanced the audience's appreciation of both the musical composition and the architectural space.
Experience
The audience experienced classical music in a transformative context that engaged multiple senses simultaneously. As the familiar notes of Dvořák's compositions filled the hall, the surrounding architecture came alive with responsive imagery that made visible the invisible structures of the music. This created moments of heightened perception, where musical motifs could be both heard and seen as they developed throughout the performance.
As noted in press coverage from VICE, the performance "brought Dvořák's music to life" in a way that felt both reverential to tradition and boldly forward-thinking. By combining the timeless beauty of orchestral music with the limitless possibilities of projection mapping, Sim/Nebula redefined the concert-going experience—demonstrating how technology can deepen our engagement with classical art forms rather than simply modernizing them.
The historic significance of both the venue and the anniversary celebration added additional layers of meaning to the experience. The juxtaposition of 19th-century musical composition, performed in a historic hall, with 21st-century visual technology created a unique temporal dialogue that honored tradition while embracing innovation.
Credits
Commissioned by: Ceska Sporitelna
Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek
Performed by: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Venue: Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague
Visual Artists: International collaboration featuring 11 artists, including Osman Koç
Press Coverage: VICE - Nebula at Signal Festival, VICE - Projection Mapping in a Concert Hall
Sim/Nebula exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, where sound, space, and digital media converge to create an unforgettable artistic experience—bridging history with innovation through the language of light and music.