Rebirth: A Grand Architectural Mapping Show in Ukraine
Project REBIRTH embodies the Ukrainian spirit and national identity through a spectacular piece of projection mapping. We led the entire creative process—from the initial idea to the final content creation—delivering an emotionally resonant audiovisual experience. The mapping took place in the heart of Kyiv, projected onto the 10-storey Kyiv City Council building during the 2019 Kyiv Lights Festival.
3D Mapping
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Project Introduction
Unifying Ukraine’s visual symbols into one modern, meaningful design was a true creative challenge. Our team explored over 50 concepts with 13 designers, generating hundreds of unique models and simulations. The result was a kaleidoscopic, multi-layered immersive content experience that captured the cultural essence of the nation in motion.
Solution
Modern and Authentic Art direction
“Free man”—that’s the meaning of the word Cossack, a core spiritual symbol of the Ukrainian nation.
We chose Cossack culture as the foundation of our visual concept, merging it with the artistic legacy of the ancient Trypillian civilization, which inhabited Ukrainian lands as early as 3000 BC. Our team then translated this rich historical blend into a modern visual language—creating an authentic and culturally grounded art direction.
Idea and concepts
In total, we developed 62 concept drafts, from which five key scenes were selected. These scenes best captured the emotions and aesthetics we aimed to express, forming the core visual narrative of the project.
Scene development
All of this required meticulous work. Even the smallest details demanded precise modeling and true-to-life simulations.
We “baked” over 10 separate renders for individual objects, using tools like ZBrush, Maya, Cinema 4D, X-Particles, and Redshift for final rendering. The entire process spanned over two months and resulted in a visually rich, authentic, and distinctly modern art direction.
Characters development
A central “hero” leads the journey through time—a figure from the future, yet deeply rooted in the past. This duality is reflected in the character’s design: a minimal, futuristic costume combined with modern accessories and a defining accent—the ? symbol.
Supporting characters carry equal symbolic weight. The mother-grandmother figure embodies harmony and fruitfulness, while the Cossacks represent power and courage—together uniting the story’s core themes.
Another key figure is the Bandurist, symbolizing Ukrainian creativity across generations. To reflect this spirit as progressive and evolving, we subtly integrated a Buddha allusion into the design.
Animation multi-layered mapping
Our mapping building has some neo-classical forms and is the highest representative body of the city community in Kyiv. We had enough space to create various animations. We concentrated on complex composition to achieve in animation the filling of Puzzle scenes that open the way to the next scene, a deeper level of the story.
Result
"Rebirth" set a new benchmark for large-format architectural storytelling, blending advanced technical mastery with deeply human themes. It demonstrated how multimedia art can transform public space into an emotional and unifying experience, leaving a lasting impression not just on the audience—but on the urban landscape itself.
Our approach combined sculptural art direction, custom motion design, and high-precision projection mapping to create a seamless visual journey. Using layers of animated textures and abstract storytelling, we reflected the spirit of cultural regeneration and collective hope. Each scene was carefully choreographed to synchronize with live music and emotional transitions, ensuring a powerful sensory impact on the audience.
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