Access All Areas April 2018 | Page 38

APRIL | HOT TAKE
Lighting events like the Artichoke-produced Lumiere, are bringing art into our
everyday lives, so we asked some experts how to get lighting right
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JIM DUGAN AMELIA KOSMINSKY,
Production manager, Unusual Rigging Lighting technician, Lumiere
We work with a variety of spaces, from
museums and West End theatres, to
big capital projects. Our long theatrical
experience, respecting the artwork and
props, gave us a lot of knowledge for
handling outdoor lighting installations that,
like Lumiere, are becoming popular in cities
as well as festival sites.
Once we have the artist’s brief, we look
into Health & Safety. Working and height,
outdoors, brings in certain requirements.
We then work out the structural engineering
calculations.
Often we are using nature and structures
together to create the desired effect. This
can require fencing, outdoor power sources,
banners, rigging, projection and sound.
Production-wise, we have a small and
close-knit team. Many of the same faces
appear on site. The people on the ground
understand lighting inside out, and know
each others roles intimately.
e often try to use lighting and sound off
the shelf, as it’s easy to control the variables
and easier to setup.
Different spaces re uire uni ue products.
Outdoor requires weather proof speakers
and lighting, and there will be sound
restrictions, and bespoke technology to
serve the requirements of the space.
It’s often about balancing vision and
budget. In terms of creative lighting tips: Keep
it simple, there’s magic in simplicity.
And always keep in mind the story that
you’re trying to tell as it’s very easy find
to get caught up in the cleverness of the
technology.
I’ve always had an interest in light and
nature, from watching raindrops run along
car windows and refracting, through to light
rays in a forest.
In my early twenties, I began working as
a photographer and looking at the use of
light, both man-made and natural and how
we react to it. Currently I’m studying Video
Design for Live Performance at Guildhall
School of Music and Drama and looking at
the collaborative nature between light and
video projection.
I once designed a dress out of tungsten
light rope and cable ties called ‘Let Her Shine’
which was shown in Lumiere Durham 2009
and then again in Riz Ahmed (Riz Mc)’s live
album launch for ‘Microscope’ in 2011.
I’ve also worked as production assistant
for QED Productions on ‘Lumiere Durham’
helping set up the seven video installations
in the festival. I’m constantly learning by
working alongside others who are real
e perts in their field. hat they have always
taught me is the power of collaboration,
teamwork and constant openness towards
new ideas and new technologies.
IN PICTURES
Top to bottom: Lumiere
2018 on Regent Street/ Was
That a Dream? by Cédric Le
Borgne, Berkeley Square,
Mayfair. © MatthewAndrew/
Origin of the World bubble
1©MatthewAndrews