With many missing the simple act of ordering up a cocktail during a post-work happy hour, ARTECHOUSE—an immersive art venue based in Washington, D.C., with sister locations in New York and Miami—sought to bring back the experience in the form of a high-tech, holographic art installation.

Unveiled in November and open through the spring at ARTECHOUSE in  D.C. and New York’s Chelsea Market, the socially distant, digital experience—titled “NHKS4220 Bar Illusion”—pulls inspiration from Edward Hopper’s famed “Nighthawk” painting, and pays homage to the many cocktail lounges, bars and nightlife venues forced to close their doors, either temporarily or permanently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During troubled times, bars are a place for solace, community and conversation, but, due to current public health concerns, many of them are now closed,” said Sandro Kereselidze, co-founder and chief creative officer of ARTECHOUSE, in a statement. “’NHKS4220′ seeks to present that sense of community while we live in a world of social distancing, isolation and uncertainty.”

To bring this concept to life, ARTECHOUSE joined forces with Noiland Collective, an Austin-based digital art collective, to team up with Epson and use the tech company’s state-of-the-art large-venue projectors for a 3D hologram effect. With large, vibrant displays more important than ever for easier accessibility and engaging interactions, while keeping attendees at a safe distance, Epson came prepared with a range of compact yet high-tech projectors to create a seamless digital experience. (The Epson ELPLX01 ultra-short-throw lens especially was a key component of bringing the installation to life.) 

So how do three teams come together to transform a venue into an immersive experience in a time of social distancing? Naturally, much of it was a hybrid approach, using live camera feeds that brought some curators into the venue virtually, allowing them to communicate with the few that were actually on-site. Those that were on-site to physically install equipment were required to comply with health safety precautions. 

Take a closer look here: