The beauty of carved gemstones has captivated collectors and craftsmen since antiquity. This interactive invites visitors to stop and examine the artistry of these highly detailed objects.

Two display cases feature moveable, high-magnification video cameras. A custom application processes and displays the video stream on a monitor. After two minutes of user inactivity, determined using image processing algorithms, a title screen and instructions are displayed. The video stream reappears whenever the camera moves again.

PROJECT
Produced for The J. Paul Getty Museum exhibition Carvers and Collectors: The Lasting Allure of Ancient Gems in 2009.

FORMAT
Custom interactive application running on MacMini connected to digital microscope and display.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Director and technical producer: Paco Link
Production coordinator: Keeli Shaw
Developer: Mark Baltzegar