Leviathan - staged in association with the Austrian Army - took place at various scenic locations along the valley. The story is based on the spread of the philosophical ideas of Thomas Hobbes and seamlessly combines art and technology to create an exciting choreographic deployment of heavy military machinery and people. This was interweaved with film and photographs of local history, all delivered from a huge Lighthouse R19 19mm LED video wall built on a military ferry, which cruised up and down the Danube.
The screen with dimension 8.5 x 6.4m (55sq.m) was controlled by Lighthouse LVC88 processors and was built on the back of a pontoon, powered by three 250hp boats. A 16-man crew comprising one commandant, three boat drivers and 12 men for landing manoeuvres manned the vessel.
Responsible for the provision and construction of this all-important video element was Philipp Haidvogel of Wiener Medien Werkzeuge, who says: "Whilst the video wall construction of the project was not that complex - we use the same scaffolding system as we would on solid ground - the entire ferry-scaffold-screen assembly had the potential to career from one side to the other!"
The most testing component of the project was the set-up of the radio link for the video signal. Haidvogel explains: "With the control positions on shore and the screen sited on a moving ferry, there was a considerable distance between the video transmitter and the receiver. Also the constant movement of the vessel meant we had to use GMS (Global Microwave System), one of the most powerful radio control systems available in Europe."
Water ingress and humidity were other potential obstacles, but proved no problem for the Lighthouse screens. Haidvogel says: "Lighthouse R19 screens are extremely robust, in fact they are built like tanks! Assuming the screens are well maintained they work in practically any environment, no matter what the atmospheric conditions are. The screens are simple to assemble and operationally they are as uncomplicated to use as a television set."
The only other ingredient of the show that perhaps could have been an issue were the three Blackhawk helicopters that flew overhead throughout. The three helicopters had their own choreography, synchronously climbing and descending 50m behind the screen. The resulting downwash caused considerable spray from the river, but even that was not a problem for the Lighthouse screens.
Video designer for Leviathan Mr. Stefan Aglassinger, and the whole team from Lawine Torrèn reported that they were extremely happy with the production, saying for such a technically challenging piece the integration of art and army was surprisingly uncomplicated.
(Chris Henry)
