ON lights up Rio’s Arcos da Lapa for Flamengo jersey launch

RIO DE JANEIRO – (September 16, 2025) – Brazilian company ON used Christie^® Griffyn™ 4K50-RGB pure laser projectors to illuminate the historic Arcos da Lapa monument in Rio de Janeiro as part of a campaign to unveil the new jersey of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, Brazil’s most popular football club, in partnership with Adidas Originals.

The aqueduct, one of Rio’s most emblematic landmarks, was transformed with Flamengo’s signature red and black palette and the campaign phrase “Patrimônio Original da Nação” (“The Nation’s Original Heritage”). ON, a leading audiovisual solutions provider with a track record in large-scale projections and cultural events, delivered the activation on behalf of Adidas’ agency WMS.

ON staff from left to right: Gabriel Vasconcelos, Vinicius Pablo, Laura Barcellos, Graziela Adorno and Luiz Fernando Azevedo. Photo credit: Ricardo Cyrill

To achieve the striking effect across the monument’s 70-meter (23-foot) façade, ON installed two Griffyn 4K50-RGB projectors on temporary structures positioned 55 meters (180 feet) from the arches. The content covered an area of approximately 1,190 m², combining flowing red stripes with text elements in yellow.

“We chose the Griffyns because of their brightness and color accuracy, which were essential for this project,” says Hugo Rodrigues, CEO of ON. “Since red was the predominant color, we needed strong saturation and contrast to make it stand out against the dark background of the arches. The projectors delivered exactly the shade we wanted with more than enough brightness for the outdoor setting.”

The ON team applied warping and blending techniques to adapt the content to the aqueduct’s irregular architecture. The system was powered by a media server running Resolume Arena 7, with playback tested under strict confidentiality to avoid revealing the campaign in advance.

“Working on the Arcos da Lapa was a technical challenge because of its geometry,” adds Rodrigues. “But the Griffyn projectors allowed us to map the surface precisely, and the end result was an impressive image that reinforced Flamengo’s identity and the campaign’s message.”

Projection mapping on the historic Arcos da Lapa monument in Rio de Janeiro. Photo credit: Ricardo Cyrill

As the project required secrecy until launch, rehearsals took place after midnight with placeholder visuals. “Testing was one of the most delicate parts of the job,” Rodrigues explains. “In a city where so many people are Flamengo supporters, any premature reveal could have drawn a crowd and spoiled the surprise. We had to disguise the content right up until the activation itself.”

While the projection was not announced publicly, passersby and tourists witnessed the spectacle, which was primarily designed for filming and online distribution. The choice of the Arcos da Lapa as the projection surface highlighted the deep connection between Flamengo and Rio de Janeiro, underlining the club’s role as a cultural symbol that extends far beyond football.

The Griffyn 4K50-RGB is Christie’s brightest projector in its class, delivering 50,000 lumens and covering nearly the full Rec. 2020 color gamut. Designed for demanding large-venue applications, the projector combines compact design, quiet operation, and integrated warping and blending tools, making it a versatile solution for high-impact projects around the world.