Curved wall projection showing Johnny Deep's artwork

Museums & Visitor Centers

A Bunch of Stuff

New York City, New York

Experiential technology explores the creative life of Johnny Depp.

‘A Bunch of Stuff’ is an exhibition that showcases the artwork of renowned actor Johnny Depp. Based in New York City, the exhibition explores how his creativity has evolved to reflect and enrich his life throughout its various stages. Visitors take a multisensory journey through multiple galleries that display more than 70 artworks together with spaces and elements that have influenced different aspects of his art. At the heart of the exhibition is the ‘Black Box’, a 360-degree experiential space that immerses viewers in a personal exploration of the artwork and creative thinking of Johnny Depp.

Audiovisual technology augments and enhances the physical exhibits throughout. In the galleries, 24 audio speakers provide a narrative that adds further color and insight to the rich visual experience. In the Black Box, projection onto large-scale curved walls and surround-sound audio create an immersive digital canvas that engages, informs and inspires visitors.

Electrosonic was hired by TAIT to deliver the audiovisual technology and integration for ‘A Bunch of Stuff’ on behalf of BAUART and Pantheon Art.

Group of people looking at a video wall of Johnny Depp

Creating an environment to showcase the evolution of a creative journey.

The goal of the exhibition was to create a compelling immersive environment to feature the art of Johnny Depp and explore his creative thinking.

Organizers BAUART recognized that Depp’s paintings and many personal mementoes would be key to the success of the exhibition, and they wanted to use experiential technology to recreate and illuminate Johnny Depp’s creative evolution as an artist.

As partners of BAUART in designing and producing this exhibition, TAIT were looking for an integration solution to program the projection and audio systems. They needed a partner that could solve the complex problems of projection on curved surfaces and complete the build phase within the exhibition’s tight deadline.

Group of people looking at a video wall of Johnny Depp

Solving complex projection challenges in a 360-degree space.

Electrosonic worked closely with TAIT, global leaders in culture defining experiences, to build and integrate an audiovisual solution that would support the exhibition’s creative goals. In the ‘Black Box’ 360-degree space, Electrosonic installed eight Barco projectors (4 for each wall) integrated with a Watchout media server that system drives the content for the space.

Electrosonic also installed QSC speakers to complete the Black Box’s immersive environment and developed a control system to manage continuous program looping and automated start and end-of-day sequences. Throughout the gallery spaces we provided and installed 24 speakers to deliver a quality audio experience.

At the Build stage, Electrosonic provided comprehensive services, including System Integration, Specialty Projection, Audio, Project Management, Detailed Engineering, CAD & BIM Engineering, Facility Impact, Procurement, Installation & Integration and System Commissioning and Programming. At the Support stage, Electrosonic provided essential Training and Warranty Support.

Group of people looking at a video wall of Johnny Depp

Storytelling with technology adds new depth to physical exhibits.

‘A Bunch of Stuff’ is a fascinating introduction to the art and thinking of Johnny Depp. Adding technology to the mix enhances storytelling by weaving physical artwork and digital imagery with the artist’s personal narrative to paint a comprehensive picture of his life and influences.

In the galleries, visitors can view firsthand original artworks while listening to the artist explaining the relevance and importance of the images to different aspects of his life and work. As Johnny Depp explains, “Through the magic and madness of life, art has been my sanctuary. These pieces, born of different stages of my journey are a residue of a life lived." In the ‘Black Box’, technology allows visitors to immerse themselves in a unique emotional journey that creates an inspiring picture of the artist’s development.

As art consultant Anne-Sophie Villemin, commented, “Thanks to the concept that marries physical and digital, the artworks, the personal artifacts and the animation, Depp is able to share his personal story and show the scope of his creative mind, resulting in a total immersive experience.”

Client:
TAIT

Location:
New York City, New York

Project partners:
BAUART, Pantheon Art

Technology partners:
Barco, Qsys, Watchout

Services

Build & System Integration
Specialty Projection, Audio & Acoustics
Project Management
Detailed Engineering
CAD & BIM Engineering
Facility Impact
Procurement
Fabrication
Installation & Integration
System Commissioning
System Programming
System Acceptance Testing
Training
Warranty Support

GALLERY SPACES

Audio narrates an inspiring journey through Johnny Depp's creative life.

As they walk through multiple galleries, visitors explore the evolution of Depp’s work through paintings, sketches, collages, relics and everyday objects that have inspired his creativity development. More than 70 pieces of original artwork celebrate the artist’s 30-year creative journey while visitors can immerse themselves in the ‘White Box’, a recreation of the intimate places where he worked. Twenty-four speakers located throughout the galleries provide a compelling narrative on the many chapters of Johnny Depp’s artistic growth and the images that have enriched all aspects of his life and work.

An introduction wall that explains the thoughts behind the museum

A line of paintings that are Johney Depp's song lyrics and quotes

A curtain of relics hanging from the ceiling in a blue room with paintings hung on the wall

A person touching the relics hanging from the ceiling

A gallery space that mimics the living room where Johnny Deep created paintings with a couch and table

Johnny Deep in the middle of painting in one of the mock workspaces

Hallway that shows two gallery spaces that leads to the white box at the end of the hall

A walkthrough the museum displaying different gallery spaces

BLACK BOX

Experiential technology takes visitors inside the artist's creative mind.

The heart of the museum is the ‘Black Box’, a 360-degree theater that immerses visitors in the mind and creative life of Johnny Depp. Two large, curved walls display Depp’s artwork while the artist discusses his creative process and the relation of art to chapters in his life. Four projectors precisely focused on each wall seamlessly blend images of Depp’s artwork on a dramatic digital canvas. Throughout the continuously looping 14-minute program, Depp’s narration adds depth and insight to the images through strategically positioned speakers, creating a truly immersive experience.

Visitors looking at a 360 media production of Johnny Depp's artistic process

People looking at a curved projection wall that displays Johnny Deeps artwork

Group of people look at the curved screen projection in the Black Box

People watching a progression of a Johnny Deep painting in the black box

Experiential Technology for Museum Spaces

Get inspiration to re-imagine what a museum can be with experiential technology.

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The introductory wall that displays the artwork of Johnny Depp

A curved wall displaying Johnny Depp's artwork

A wall of artwork that Johnny Depp's fan have signed

Fans looking at artwork on a blue curtained wall

A gallery space of Johnny Depp leading into a curtained area

The entrance of the Johnny Depp with a skeleton display and employees

A group of people looking at objects floating from the ceiling

The ending space of the Johnny Depp museum

Electrosonic’s experiential technology solution has helped recreate Johnny Depp’s artistic journey through art and creative development in an inspiring way that engages all the senses.

Ben Alwag, Senior Design Consultant

Electrosonic