view of The Eye of Nagaur installationThe Eye of Nagaur is a pioneering interactive digital multimedia installation made with state of the art photographic and visualisation technologies. Visitors to this work are able to make an exceptional journey of discovery to Ahhichatragarh's magnificent architectural spaces and the artistic decorations found throughout the Fort and Palace complex.
The Eye of Nagaur uses the new Swiss panoramic camera - the Seitz Roundshot D3 - that expands the current boundaries of digital photography. Its 140 megapixel scanning back combined with a fisheye lens has now made it possible to capture spherical panoramas of Nagaur Fort in stunning resolution and with a beauty never before achieved. The photography was completed during two days fieldwork 15th, 16th December 2007
Seitz D3 at NagaurThe Mamiya 24mm fisheye was chosen in preference to the full Nikon 16mm fisheye despite some limitations. There is of course a drop of at the top and bottom and the observable blank spot at the very top/bottom, but compared to the Nikon, the Mamiya gives much better resolution results especially at the centre of the image. Future iterations of the scanning back for the D3 will centre the lens on the sensor and have a calibration whereby the fisheye lens distortion is corrected.
Looking through the 'eye' of the imposing three meter high circular screen of the Nagaur installation, viewers explore a constellation of ultra-high resolution panoramic images that reveal the beauty of this site.
click here to view Ganesha Temple panorama
Ganesha panorama using zoom modeUsing a specially designed trackball and button controls, participants are able to rotate their point of view in any direction in each of its sixteen spherical 360- degree scenes, exploring in fine detail the painted ceilings, floors and wall decorations (QTVR 2: interior Hadi Rani Mahal), hydraulic infrastructure and the unique fusion of Mughal-Rajput architectural features.
click here to view interior Hadi Rani Mahal panoramaThe architectural significance of the complex of the Fort of the Hooded Cobra, as is it is otherwise known, lies in its spatial organization and hydraulic features.
click here to view sunrise of Bhakt Singh palace panoramaThe juxtaposition of open, semi-open and the enclosed spaces of the palaces and baradaris are interwoven with flow and stored water systems. Various levels of terraces and strategic view points brilliantly combine security with aesthetics. The use of Persian wheels, pipes and cascades and fountains are testament to the impressive engineering features that not only kept the Fort and Palaces well supplied with water, but also created a microclimate and cooling system, supplied the intimate hammam and, allowed gardens to flourish.
The Eye of Nagaur becomes a mirror reflecting the rich life of the former inhabitants. Among the plastered stone buildings one is able to focus on Rajput style protecting jharokhas, cusped bracket arches, carved stone jaalies and, the high quality wall paintings and the mirrored ceiling adornment.
The Eye of Nagaur transports the eye to these palace ceilings, painted with celestial, winged figures, flying amidst rolling clouds in a stylized form reflecting the European influences introduced by the Jesuits in the Mughal court. The panoramic spheres invite one inside the Ahba Mahal, rich in floral patterns interspersed with court scenes (ceiling at Abha Mahal; ceiling detail) or into the Hadi Rani Mahal, defined by its elegant scalloped arches, whose plastered walls are lively with the pageantry of women, foliage and flowers.
vertical ceiling panorama at Abha Mahal
ceiling detail Abha Mahal)Each of the locations in The Eye of Nagaur is augmented with traditional royal musical compositions, specifically recorded to accompany each panoramic location. In these compositions the listener will hear the instruments of sitar, jaltarang, sarangi, kakamaicha, pakhawaz, tabla, santoor and sarod evoking courtly life, ritual and religious activity, the hydraulic influences and the waterways that were central to Nagaur Fort.
The Eye of Nagaur is an indelible record of this period in the history of revitalization of Ahhichatragarh Fort. It is a permanent on-site installation available for all visitors to the site.
click here to view The Palace of Lamps panoramaThe Eye of Nagaur is made possible through the vision of His Highness Maharaja Gajsingh II of Marwar - Jodhpur and the Mehrangarh Museum Trust. With special thanks to The Helen Hamlyn Trust and the Lady Hamlyn. Project initiated and commissioned by Terry Glenn Phipps.
click here to view village scene at the entrance to Nagaur Fort panoramaConceived and created by Sarah Kenderdine and Jeffrey Shaw
Photography: Sarah Kenderdine, Urs Krebs
Roundshot D3 Camera: courtesy of Seitz
Post production: Sarah Kenderdine, Volker Schubert
Music Composition and Direction: Nawab Khan Ustad Gulam Mustafa Khan (Vocal Clasical), Bhawani Shankar (Pakhawaz) Nawab Khan(Santoor), Ilyas Khan(Sarangi), Ustad Dustir Khan & Pandit Narayan Bhavria (Sitar), Ustad Khadim Hussain (Tabla) Dharmendra Chouhan (Flute), Kosik Varma & Sikandar Langa (Vocal Folk) Special Thanks To Surtaal Sansthan
Application software: Evan Hallein
Panoramic software consultant: Paul Bourke
Installation architecture preparation: Minakshi Jain
Screen Manufacture: Huib Nelissen
Archaeological conservation Advisors and Facilitators: Mahendra Singh, CEO of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust; Karni Singh Jasol, curator Mehrangarh Fort
Project Architect/Director: Minakshi Jain
Site Engineer: Surendra Harsh
Fieldwork assistance: Lalit Naryan Bohza
Production partners: Museum Victoria and UNSW iCinema Research Centre.
© Sarah Kenderdine, Jeffrey Shaw 2008
Email: skenderdine at museum.vic.gov.au
Downloads:
PDF postcard
PDF A4 flyer
