The City of Pompeii has remained a marvel and a mystery for centuries. Many historians and researchers have worked to unravel its secrets, to understand more about the city and the fate the befell it when it was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Spewing smoke and toxic gas some 20 miles into the air – which soon spread to the town – the volcano claimed the lives of approximately 2,000 citizens, before preserving the city under a layer of ash and pumice. Over time, research and detailed investigations have revealed more about the city, and about the lives and lifestyle of Pompeii’s people.
History around every corner
Most recently, an artistic project that encompasses the art, history, and culture of this fascinating city has put Pompeii in the spotlight once again. Entitled the Pompei Continuum, the exhibition was created to support Pompeii’s candidacy to become the Italian Capital of Culture for 2026. Opening in December 2024, and running until January 2025, the temporary exhibition lasted for approximately 35 days, welcoming over 20,000 visitors who were drawn by the history, art, culture and mystique of Pompeii.
AV was integral for bringing the exhibition to life. Three entire squares were illuminated exclusively by projectors to display the wide array of artistic content that was created especially for the Pompei Continuum. These included ecclesiastical works, artistic paintings, and sketched outlines that captured the beauty and brilliance of this significant city. The art was surfaced mapped onto ancient buildings and surfaces – themselves rich with centuries of history – to create an immersive experience for visitors.
The power of projection
In the case of the Pompei Continuum, projector solutions from Vivitek were relied on to display the eye-catching content created for the exhibition. The organisers decided upon 15 Vivitek laser projectors especially engineered for large venue environments. The projector line-up comprised: DU9900Z (x8), DU9057Z (x1), DU9800Z (x3), and the DU8395Z (x3). The Vivitek DU9000 Series is a groundbreaking line of single-chip DLP laser projectors created to redefine brilliance and innovation in large venue projection, making ideally suited to the Pompei Continuum. Revolutionising projection in demanding environments, the D9000Z Series has been designed for seamless integration and control, offering unmatched operational features while setting a new benchmark for performance and versatility. The DU8395Z is also a large venue laser projector. It is especially well-suited to unusual projection requirements – such as mapping – as it has picturein-picture functions and stuns with its brilliant image quality and durability. The device offers a constant light output of 15,000 lumens, ensuring it will deliver the calibre of crisp images quality and vibrant colours that the organisers of the Pompei Continuum demanded.
Flexible, versatile, durable
The organisers chose Vivitek’s projectors for their high brightness output, high image definition, relatively low energy consumption levels and excellent image definition, thanks to the singlechip 0.96-inch DLP technology. To ensure visitors enjoy an optimal viewing experience, a wide range of lenses – from the wide-angle 0.8–1.2 to the long-throw 4.0–7.0 lenses – were used. The organisers were impressed with the ease of the lens installation, thanks to Vivitek lenses being lighter than the competition and very easy to mount onto the projector. Furthermore, Vivitek’s reputation for durability – combined with their value for money – helped the projectors stand out from other solutions available.
Given the logistical and practical considerations involved, the projectors were installed in seven towers, each containing two projectors, except for one tower which housed three projectors illuminating the front of the Sanctuary of Pompeii, a major Catholic shrine and basilica. The projectors were in operation daily for seven hours a day (from 6pm to midnight). Despite the demands placed upon them, the projectors provided fault-free performance throughout the entire exhibition. This was due in part to their advanced cooling, which reduces heat-related stresses on key components. This ensures consistent performance and long-term durability, making Vivitek projectors an excellent investment.
The City of Pompeii continues to intrigue and fascinate residents and visitors alike, and the Pompei Continuum was a magnificent celebration of its past and present, brought to life with powerful, efficient and long-lasting projector solutions from Vivitek.
