Recently, a large-scale spectacular event took place in the courtyard of the academic building No. 40, Lviv Polytechnic National University. The Department of Visual Design and Art, the Institute of Architecture and Design, presented the creative achievements of its students in the format of an immersive video projection installation VJXL. IARD Director Yurii Dyba and Acting Rector of the University Yurii Bobalo attended the event. There was used augmented reality technology to turn the atrium facade into a dynamic colourful canvas – digital interpretations of course papers came to life being accompanied by modern rhythmic pieces by local musicians.
The successful implementation of the project was made possible by the synergy of efforts and the sincere interest of all parties involved. Professor Viktor Shtets, Head of the Department of Visual Design and Art, the initiator of numerous dynamic changes and project initiatives of the Department, provided active support at the level of the University administration and the Institute leadership. He also helped to promote the event among gallerists and recognised representatives of the artistic community. The initiator and manager of the project engaged a circle of patrons to help to implement the idea and provide the technical basis for the installation – without this support, the colourful kaleidoscopic fantasy would have remained unborn. The altruistic and inspiring work of the creative team inspired the fourth-year students to be actively and emotionally involved in the process. The opportunity to implement their own ideas, the feeling of mentoring support and emotional involvement became effective motivational factors.
There are three key components of the project: artistic and conceptual; technical; organisational and informational. The core of the first one was the idea to present the most successful developments from the leading academic disciplines of the Department. This conceptual choice fully justified itself – the works organically formed a spatial and temporal composition, the musical accompaniment for which was created by Rostyslav Storozhenko. Anticipating a holistic audio-visual experience of the event, the VJXL participants-creators preferred contemporary electronic music: the event was opened by Rostyslav Storozhenko’s DJ set, which, by the way, was his debut. The event ended with a DJ set by more experienced Viktor Zhyrkov (Garmonia) who performed together with Purple Daddy.
