Humboldt Forum
— Highlights
Studio Jester Blank had the great honor of developing the digital strategy with the Humboldt Forum Foundation, including the visual language for the Highlights campaign, as well as the digitization requirements and the execution thereof.
For the digitization as well as the photography part, we decided to aim for the highest level of quality, to generate a sustainable, life like product, which will stay up to date for decades to come.
Because of this high quality standard our digital twins can be used for marketing (print/web/interactive) as well as for scientific and archival purposes.
Client:
Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
Product:
Digital strategy, 3D-digitization, key visuals, archival photography, object animation
Services:
consultancy
digital strategy
3D-digitization
animations
campaign photography
archival photography
post-production
Year:
2018–2020
Team:
Philipp Jester, Jens Blank, Cornelius Diemer, Beda Mulzer, Claudia Schröder
Highlights campaign
Humboldt Forum Highlights campaign (excerpts) / key visuals by Studio Jester Blank, graphic design by Ta-Trung
Campaign © Stiftung Humboldt Forum
Above you get a glimpse of the vast diversity amongst the highlight objects displayed in the campaign. It was our job to produce striking images from these extraordinary objects, that stand for themselves.
Object digitization
Number of 3D-digitized museum objects:
14
Sizes:
20cm to 3,5m height
Materials:
Wood, gold, copper, ceramics, plastics, terracotta, mixed materials
Applications:
Printed campaign, digital visuals & animations
Original resolution:
16k
Display resolution (limited):
2k
Using a combination of high resolution photogrammetry and structured light scans we created digital twins that can be used for a wide range of applications.
Our 3D objects are AR/VR/Web ready, but also hold detailed surface and colour information which can be used for conservation, restoration and other scientific purposes. At the same time you won’t need to ‘disturb’ your object if you need to create imagery for marketing purposes. You’ll be able to create photorealistic renderings up to the macro level from our 3D Data.
Shiva's mount Nandi
India
19th century
As if striding down a catwalk, this almost life-sized Zebu bull exudes elegance. This magnificent example is not just any humped bull, but one who served as God Shiva's mount in a Hindu temple in South India. During major temple festivals a bronze effigy of the god, splendidly decorated in silk clothes and flowers, was mounted on the back of the wooden bull and driven round the temple with great pomp in a ceremonial procession.
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
The display resolution is limited to 2K due to regulations from the client.
Head of a Bodhisattva
Kizil, Cave of the Statues
6th century
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Indische Kunst / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
The display resolution is limited to 2K due to regulations from the client.
3D-renderings
Quimbayan Cacique
Columbia
500 – 700 ce
This elaborately fashioned example of the outstanding goldsmith's craft of the Quimbaya from today's Colombia probably depicts a cacique (tribal chief) or high priest. The elevated status of the man depicted can be discerned by his opulent jewellery. The figure served as a container for shell lime, which to this day is needed for chewing the coca leaves. The stimulating effect is produced by alkaloids which are only released from the leaves by the addition of lime.
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
The display resolution is limited to 2K due to regulations from the client
Barrigón
Guatemala
500 – 300 bce
Peaceful, at one with himself and, despite his closed eyes, astoundingly present - as if he wanted to say: I am here, whatever happens! The barrigón or small potbelly sculpture, as these obese figures are known, is shrouded in mystery. He takes us back to a very early phase in Central America's settlement-to a time about which we know very little due to the absence of written records. The 800-kilogram boulder from Guatemala's coastal lowlands probably represents a deity. However, the meaning assigned to the little potbelly boulder remains unknown to this day. He remains silent on the matter.
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
The display resolution is limited to 2K due to regulations from the client
Mayan war vase
Guatemala
700 – 900 ace
The Maya considered cocoa to be the blood of the corn god. It was only served to the most powerful as a divine elixir. The containers designed for the cocoa were also symbolically charged. This vase from Guatemala, for example, whose surface features a wild battle scene, documents the triumph and defeat of powerful Mayan warriors. The detailed cinematic-like depiction and the unique artistic quality give us an insight into the fascinating cultural history of the Maya.
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
The display resolution is limited to 2K due to regulations from the client
Why highRes digitization?
— To record and conserve
— To broaden accessibility to historical objects
— To exchange digital exhibits with other museums
— To reproduce fragile cultural heritage
— New methods of education and procuration
Featherwork Madonna (extract)
Pátcuaro, Mexiko
Late 18th century
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
The display resolution is limited to max. 2K due to regulations of the client
Animation
Cinteotl, Aztec maize goddess
16th century
Cinteotl, aztekische Maisgöttin
16. Jahrhundert
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
The display resolution is limited to 2K due to regulations from the client
Mayan war vase, 700–900
Guatemala
Kriegsvase der Maya, 700–900
Guatemala
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
The display resolution is limited to 2K due to regulations from the client
Animations of the highlight objects, were presented to the public, at the open house inside the Humboldt Forum and amongst talks concerning new technologies in the field of cultural heritage.
Campaign photography /
Key visuals
Above are examples of the finalized photographs. In this case, we decided to underpin the objects three dimensional aspects, by placing them on plain colour plates and removing all traces of conflicting three dimensional spaces, leaving us with the essence of the object itself.
The Highlights objects were captured for the Humboldt Forum print and online campaign but also for archival purposes from several perspectives including high resolution details and macro photography. Productions took place in the following museums and collections:
Altes Museum, Asiatisches Museum, Ethnologisches Museum, Schlossbauhütte, Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin, Charité Berlin, Neues Museum, Schirrhof Potsdam, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Bode Museum, Depot Stadtmuseum Berlin.
1
Sope - Figure of a deity
New Ireland, before 1877
2
Emperor's throne - Qing Dynasty
China, 17th century
3
Nandi - Shiva's mount
India, 19th century
4
Eagle serpent (Cuauhcoatl)
Mexico, 1325 – 1521
5
Vishnu statue
India, 8th – 9th century
6
Ceremonial axe
China, 1500 – 1050 B.C.
7
Figure of an Uli
New Ireland, 19th century
8
Mayan war vase
Guatemala, 700 – 900 C.E.
9
Barrigón
Guatemala, 500 – 300 B.C.
10
Quimbayan Cacique
Colombia, 500 – 700 C.E.
11
Feather madonna
Mexico, 18th century
12
Cinteotl, Aztec maize goddess
16th century
Number of photographed exhibits:
26
Sizes:
20cm to 3,5m height
Materials:
Wood, gold, sandstone, hummingbird feathers, terracotta, organic material, copper, ceramics, plastics, mixed materials
Publications:
Printed campaign, digital visuals & animations
Provided resolution:
8708 x 11608 px
5504 x 8256 px
display resolution:
less than 2K
Campaign / key visuals above
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin - Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Ethnologisches Museum / Museum für Asiatische Kunst / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
For more information please visit www.humboldtforum.org.
Selected publications
Humboldt Forum Highlights Brochure
Read the brochure on Issuu.
Highlights brochure © Stiftung Humboldt Forum
Graphic design © Ta-Trung
Excerpts from the Humboldt Forum newspapers 1–4
Interview with Stefan Müchler the press officer officer at Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz with Jens Blank and Philipp Jester on digitization practices.
Read the article on Issuu.
Humboldt Forum newspaper © Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
Behind the scenes
Imagery above © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin / Stiftung Humboldt Forum
Humboldt Forum
— Highlights
Studio Jester Blank had the great honor of developing the digital strategy in collaboration with the Stiftung Humboldt Forum, including the visual language for the Highlights campaign, as well as the digitization requirements and the execution thereof.
For the digitization as well as the photography part, we decided to aim for the highest level of quality, to generate a sustainable, life like digital twins, which will stay up to date for decades to come.
Because of this high quality standard our digital twins can be used for marketing (print/web/interactive) as well as for scientific and archival purposes.
Client
Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
Product
digital strategy
campaign
3D-digitization
archival photography
object animation
Services
consultancy
digital strategy
3D-digitization
animations
campaign photography
archival photography
post-production
Year
2018–2020
Team
Philipp Jester, Jens Blank, Cornelius Diemer, Beda Mulzer, Claudia Schröder
Highlights campaign
Above you get a glimpse of the vast diversity amongst the highlight objects displayed in the campaign. It was our job to produce striking images from these extraordinary objects, that stand for themselves.
Object digitization
Shiva's mount Nandi
India
19th century
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
The display resolution is limited to 2K due to regulations from the client.
Head of a Bodhisattva
Kizil, Cave of the Statues
6th century
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
The display resolution is limited to 2K due to regulations from the client.
Quimbayan Cacique
Columbia
500 – 700 ce
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
The display resolution is limited to 2K due to regulations from the client.
Mayan war vase
Guatemala
700 – 900 ace
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
The display resolution is limited to 2K due to regulations from the client.
Using a combination of high resolution photogrammetry and structured light scans we created digital twins that can be used for a wide range of applications.
Our 3D objects are AR/VR/Web ready, but also hold detailed surface and colour information which can be used for conservation, restoration and other scientific purposes. At the same time you won’t need to ‘disturb’ your object if you need to create imagery for marketing purposes.
You’ll be able to create photorealistic renderings up to the macro level from our 3D Data.
Number of 3D-digitized objects
14
Dimensions
10mm to 3,5m height
Materials
wood, gold, copper, ceramics, plastics, terracotta, mixed materials
Applications
Printed campaign
digital visuals & animations
Resolution
16k
Campaign photography /
Key visuals
1
Sope - Figure of a deity
New Ireland, before 1877
2
Emperor's throne - Qing Dynasty
China, 17th century
3
Nandi - Shiva's mount
India, 19th century
4
Eagle serpent (Cuauhcoatl)
Mexico, 1325 – 1521
5
Vishnu statue
India, 8th – 9th century
6
Ceremonial axe
China, 1500 – 1050 B.C
7
Figure of an Uli
New Ireland, 19th century
8
Mayan war vase
Guatemala, 700 – 900 C.E.
9
Barrigón
Guatemala, 500 – 300 B.C.
10
Quimbayan Cacique
Colombia, 500 – 700 C.E.
11
Feather madonna
Mexico, 18th century
12
Cinteotl, Aztec maize goddess
16th century
All exhibits © SPK / SMB, Ethnologisches Museum / Asiatisches Museum / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
Above are examples of the finalized photographs. In this case, we decided to underpin the objects three dimensional aspects, by placing them on plain colour plates and removing all traces of conflicting three dimensional spaces, leaving us with the essence of the object itself.
The Highlights objects were captured for the Humboldt Forum print and online campaign but also for archival purposes from several perspectives including high resolution details and macro photography. Productions took place in the following museums and collections:
Altes Museum, Asiatisches Museum, Ethnologisches Museum, Schlossbauhütte, Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin, Charité Berlin, Neues Museum, Schirrhof Potsdam, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Bode Museum, Depot Stadtmuseum Berlin.
Featherwork Madonna (extract)
Pátcuaro, Mexiko
Late 18th century
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
Number of photographed exhibits
26
Sizes
20cm to 3,5m height
Publications
Printed campaign
digital visuals & animations
Provided resolution
8708 x 11608 px / 5504 x 8256 px
Animation
Maya vase, 700–900
Guatemala
© Stiftung Humboldt Forum /
Ethnologisches Museum, SMB
Animations of the highlight objects, were presented to the public, at the open house inside the Humboldt Forum and amongst talks concerning new technologies in the field of cultural heritage.
For more information please visit www.humboldtforum.org.
Publications
Excerpts from the Humboldt Forum newspapers 1–4
Interview with Stefan Müchler the press officer officer at Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz with Jens Blank and Philipp Jester on digitization practices.
Read the article on Issuu.
Humboldt Forum newspaper © Stiftung Humboldt Forum
Humboldt Forum Magazin with articles on the Humboldt Forum Lab, the ethnological Museum, etc.
Read the articles on Issuu.
Highlights brochure © Stiftung Humboldt Forum
Graphic design © Ta-Trung
Behind the scenes