3D projection to recreate the evolution of Palencia mural painting

Strange Productions, video creator company specialized in architectural video projection, has resorted to 3D projection to carry out the virtual recreation of polychromes in the convent church of Santa María de Mave, in Palencia.

Strange Productions has collaborated with the Cartif Technology Center and the Santa María la Real Foundation, in the development of a 3D projection application in the convent church of Sta. Maria de Mave (Palencia), whose objective is to graphically explain the evolution of Palencia mural painting.

This innovative system, which is in the experimental phase, It consists of the projection of 3D images on the vault of the central apse and two significant capitals of this temple, with the aim of reproducing its appearance at a certain time. In this way, without doing any physical intervention, the polychrome that the place originally had can be emulated - even where it no longer exists- or its evolution over time; reproducing its artistic changes and deteriorations.

The realization of this project has required careful analysis and documentation., since although the original paintings have disappeared and it is impossible to determine what they were like, it is necessary to ensure that the recreation is historically accurate; for it, The experience of the technical team of the Santa María la Real Foundation has been used. They have been in charge of supervising the colors used or the type of drawings, looking at the paintings that are still preserved in Mave and in other churches in the surrounding area.

laser scanner

Once all the data is collected, A system based on the use of long-range laser scanners has been used, which has allowed us to directly obtain three-dimensional models, computer manipulated, and very precise from a geometric point of view. These models are incorporated, later, color information, in order to obtain a digital result as close as possible to the original.

These models have been used to generate video sequences that allow us to recreate the respective Romanesque pictorial stages., gothic, renaissance and baroque (centuries, 18th and 18th) that appear in the temples of the area. Unlike other interventions, This video projection avoids shocking visual effects, and adheres to rigorous criteria regarding the act of painting itself and the tones used in each stage., appearing as an intrinsic part of the church.