July 26, 2019

Explore the Sistine Chapel, exclusively at SIGGRAPH 2019

Sistine Chapel

SIGGRAPH 2019

Events

By Dana Cowley

Epic’s Lead Technical Animator Christopher Evans (@epicchris) is a busy guy. Outside of his day job, he is volunteering as Games Co-Chair for SIGGRAPH 2019, an event where it just so happens he will unveil his passion project – “Il Divino: Michelangelo’s Sistine Ceiling in VR.”

Exclusive to the SIGGRAPH 2019 Immersive Pavilion, this world premiere VR experience transports viewers inside the walls of Vatican City’s famed Sistine Chapel, offering unprecedented access to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, up close and in pristine detail – you can even see individual brush strokes and cracks in the plaster.

Access a guided audio tour and explore the ceiling’s more than 300 meticulously crafted individual figures sprawling across 6,000 square feet. Step upon Michelangelo’s very own scaffold to learn how it was painted to gain historical context, and board a Vatican mobile aerial platform to learn about the site’s conservation. In total, more than 100 clickable locations and an hour of enlightening audio expose the nuances of this iconic work.

A self-professed Michelangelo superfan, Evans is also behind the memorable “Il Gigante: Michelangelo’s David in VR,” which debuted at SIGGRAPH 2017. He began working on the Sistine Chapel project 15 years ago, aiming to recreate the timeless structure in 3D and make it publicly available online as an educational resource.

With the work being in the public domain, Evans painstakingly sourced high-resolution scans and photographs for years to build the most faithful photogrammetry data. The experience currently has over 90 4K maps, all running live in Unreal Engine, provided with stunning clarity using Valve’s brand-new INDEX headset.

Using the latest high-end 3D computer graphics technology, the “Il Divino” experience aims to democratize access to the ceiling, allowing anyone, anywhere to learn more about it and take in its beauty for themselves.

Can’t make it to SIGGRAPH? “Il Divino: Michelangelo’s Sistine Ceiling in VR” will also become available later this year as a free download on Steam.

For more information on this groundbreaking project, visit the SIGGRAPH blog for an in-depth interview with Chris, and experience it in person at the Immersive Pavilion in South Hall K throughout SIGGRAPH 2019.