Sistine Chapel: Revelations launches in Sydney via Jane Dillon Creative, Catalyst XR and The Many
A new large-scale immersive exhibition, Sistine Chapel: Revelations, has opened in Sydney, offering audiences the opportunity to experience the famous frescoes by Michelangelo and other Renaissance masters in a way not previously possible. Developed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney with express permission the Vatican Museums, the exhibition presents the Sistine Chapel through high-resolution imagery, spatial storytelling and immersive environments designed to allow visitors to explore the work in greater depth and detail.
Rather than viewing the frescoes from a distance, audiences will be able to enter into its narratives, and appreciate its mastery in a format designed to support both education and deeper reflection.
To develop this experience Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has engaged three award-winning creative companies. Jane Dillon Creative led the exhibition design and production, delivering the custom build and shaping the visitor journey. Immersive technology studio Catalyst XR worked with subject matter experts from the Archdiocese and imagery supplied by the Vatican to develop the immersive projection content. The Many Australia led the marketing with OOH, paid social and a creator/influencer campaign, built around a strategy inspiring people to ‘Lift Up Your Eyes’ to the wonders of the world’s most famous ceiling.
Says Juliette Khoury, the Project Lead from the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney: “The Sistine Chapel belongs to the Church, but it carries a story that it’s been entrusted to share with the world along with the iconic Renaissance art that continues to inspire generations. Bringing Revelations to Sydney lets us share that story with audiences who may never get the chance to see this historic space in person.”
Says Jane Dillon, Director of Jane Dillon Creative: “For us, this project is about more than replication, it’s about evoking the awe of the Sistine Chapel in a completely new context. By carefully considering location, spatial design, and visitor experience, we’ve created an installation that captures the Chapel’s breathtaking proportions and translates that sense of wonder into an accessible, immersive experience for audiences in the heart of Sydney.”
Says Jamie Gilroy of Catalyst XR: “Our ambition was to create something on par with the best immersive exhibitions anywhere in the world. But more importantly, to create an experience grounded in participation, where people aren’t just looking, they’re actively engaging, moving, discovering. The technology’s real role is to let each person explore the work in their own way, at their own pace.”
Says Damien Eley, CEO of The Many Australia: “The marketing’s role was to convey the wonder of what you’ll see at the exhibition, but solve how it becomes relevant to as many people as possible. We live in a world where people rarely look up anymore. Our attention is constantly pulled down into screens and noise. This exhibition is designed to interrupt that. To create a moment where families, culture lovers, schoolkids, tech lovers and, of course, the faithful literally and figuratively lift their eyes.
The exhibition reflects a growing interest globally in immersive formats that extend how cultural works are experienced, particularly for audiences who expect more interactive and participatory environments.
Campaign Photography: Dick Sweeney, Louis & Co
Retouching: Electronic Arts
Exterior Exhibition Photos: @tmkndlr
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