The Mayan culture of Mexico remains a living culture with a rich heritage. This is the message behind the newly opened Gran Museo del Mundo Maya in Merida, Mexico. In a space of 2.600 sqm., 750.000 objects and artifacts are displayed in temporary and permanent galleries to teach the world about a culture that dates back to the beginning of time and its role in our society of today.
In order to enhance this experience for visitors, an installation depicting the sights and sounds which reference the Maya identity, has been designed by the multimedia design practice of XYZ together with video artist Xavier de Richmond. Sixteen high definition projectors animate the upper part of the museum facade and a giant tableaux of photographs, drawings and graphics by de Richmond are displayed on the lower level to the music and sounds of the Maya, past and present. The designers at XYZ have programmed a 70 projector system to reproduce the swaying movement of the foliage of the Ceiba tree, a sacred tree within the Maya culture on which the design of the museum is based.
A stunning example of art, technology and architecture in its finest form which contributes to the identity of the building and provides an immersive learning experience for visitors to the museum.
