Basilique Cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens, or Amiens Cathedral, is located in Amiens, France, roughly 120 kilometers north of Paris.  Though the carved facade is now bare, vivid colors originally brought the sculpted faces and shapes to life.  Now, projection mapping is used to recreate the appearance of the cathedral as it would have looked in the 13th century.

In person, the colors of each statue are remarkably brilliant.  I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this presentation first hand, and the effect is magical.  The arches go from grey-toned canvases to brightly colored, individual carvings.  Faces are brought to life, clothing stands apart from the background, and the entire scene depicts a fairy tale time of long ago.

The Amiens Cathedral projection mapping is used to tell a story and augment a potentially forgotten reality.