2021 VIDEO MAPPING DATA ANALYSIS

Artists and festival organizers shared informations about International projection mapping contests and light festivals on this FACEBOOK GROUP since 2018. I am familiar with this contests and every year, I observed what’s happens in the mapping community. 

2021 was a strange year where festivals tried to come back for a new edition, with the postponement of the previous programming or with a new edition on different dates compared to the usual ones. Nevertheless, despite their efforts, many festivals have not succeed to have editions in 2021, and we sincerely hope to see them again in 2022 because we miss them Art Vision Сontest, @kyivlightsfestival, LightUp Festival Palas Iasi, Luz y Vanguardias, ... !

Finally, video mapping artists were able to compete on some iconic festivals like the famous 1minute projection mapping which took place this time in Tokyo in December and the Zsolnay Fényfesztivál, this year shifted in October, where I had the opportunity to participate and also admire 2 hours of high quality video mapping from the winners of the previous editions on this magnificent cathedral of Pecs. There was a second edition of CosmoLights Projection Mapping in Greece and a new competition in Asia with BPMCwhich was opened to international teams. Brazil was full of opportunities for local artists with two festivals reserved for them but also for internationals with a new edition of SSA Mapping (virtual) and a new promising festival I Guará Mapping Festival. Don't forget the León Light Fest in Mexico which promote new generation of locals artists. Finally, the first Constellations de Metz competition curated by Jeremie Bellot took place in France with the 2020 selection. 

In terms of rules and remuneration systems, we really hope that festivals will continue to reward each work created and distributed. Zsolnay Fényfesztivál and Constellations de Metz competition tried to be fair with a distribution money between each finalists and with an additional cash prize for the winner. The contest organized for the Video Mapping Festival and Rencontres Audiovisuelles also attributes a grant for the finalists on the 2022 competition. 

2021, the year was German … by the number of events hosted (5 including Genius Loci Weimar and SCHLOSSLICHTSPIELE Karlsruhe) and by the number of artists winning prizes : our friends of @ruestungsschmie.de omnipresent in many festivals in 2021 and with jonas.denzel winning the iMapp Bucharest league on the theme “Show must go on”. 

We also notice the Indonesian artists of thefox.thefolks and Parapluie Studio victorious in Asian competitions and DecideKit from Thailand winning in Greece. 

But let's not forget that competitions are creative laboratories and not commissioned projects. It is necessary to explore, to experiment, to have fun while looking for new styles and concepts. It is important to question the similarities of style, the classic 3D effects and give a vision of future to this discipline and this art. This is as true for the artists as it is for the jury's choices. 

See you in 2022 and light up more buildings!

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Some informations are based on a previous article published in the book Image Beyond the Screen