The Death of the virgin Mary: An Exhibition of Vision and Renovation
After a thorough four-year restoration, the work “The Death of Mary” (“Oog in oog met de Dood”) shines like never before. The magnum opus of Hugo van Der Goes, one of Flanders’ greatest primitives, literally and figuratively takes center stage in Musea Brugge’s exhibition. We were fortunate to have had the opportunity to add our creative and technical touch to this exhibition. Through our video materials, we tried to elevate the visitors' experience to new heights, immersing them in the rich history on display.
The exhibition featured a captivating array of content designed to let visitors plunge in the intricate beauty of the paintings. One of the highlights was an ambient video that showcased the artwork with unparalleled precision, allowing viewers to explore its details up close in ways they could never experience in person. To achieve this, we employed a combination of classical lenses, diopters, and macro lenses, skillfully capturing breathtaking close-ups of the painting. The creative mastery extended beyond the camera work, incorporating innovative lighting techniques and the adept use of jibs and dollies. The video was complemented by a unique musical composition by Thomas Vanelslander which contributed to the serene atmosphere.
The exhibition brings together the renowned Old Master, Hugo van der Goes, with a new generation of artists such as Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer (poet), Sholeh Rezazadeh (writer), Ivo van Hove (director), Berlinde De Bruyckere (artist), and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker (choreographer). Each of these artists offers their unique perspective on the painting, illuminating it through the lens of their respective disciplines and their own personal memoirs. Each testimony is displayed individually on big television screens surrounding and facing the centerpiece painting. As a result, the exhibition is divided into captivating themes such as saying goodbye, exploring meaning and spirituality. Additionally, we delve into the life and iconic significance of Maria, shedding light on the virtuosity of the master, Hugo van der Goes, himself.
After completing the necessary on-site materials, we further provided Musea Brugge with social media and television ads to promote the exhibition to a wider audience.
The artwork holds immense value and is safeguarded with utmost vigilance. Getting close to it requires careful handling and a gentle touch – especially when approaching with (sharp) camera lenses. Certain technical restoration processes cannot be reproduced, so they had to be captured right on the spot or convincingly recreated. Furthermore, the project faced the additional complexities of a broad time span and a demanding schedule.
When it came to the interviews with the new masters, we had to come up with a setup that could easily be moved around to different shooting locations. They had busy schedules, so we had to find a way to work around that; bringing the set towards them, meeting in between or having them come to our own studio. The filming of the portraits took place in various different locations, from big to small studios, yet it was crucial to maintain consistency among them. Once we had the basic concept in place, we got to play around with different camera angles, colors, and setups during the pre-production phase. After some exploration, we settled on using vertical, black and white portraits displayed behind white veils. This choice created a calm and tranquil ambiance, perfectly complementing the scene we wanted to create.
We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of this exhibition and are truly humbled by the chance to enhance the experience of its visitors. The success of the exhibition owes much to the dedicated efforts of Musea Brugge, and we are proud to have made a valuable contribution through our team's unique perspective and expertise.