Eighty Anolis ArcSource LED fixtures were specified to illuminate the stunning 20 metre high public sculpture by leading contemporary artist Callum Morton, which forms an iconic entranceway to Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA)’s new Caulfield Campus in Victoria, Australia.
The visually striking work – a thought-provoking fusion of functional aesthetics encompassing ideas and definitions of architectural form, drive in screens, billboards, scaffolding and urban environments – was a special commission made possible by leading philanthropists Marc and Eva Besson.
Silverscreen is constructed from galvanised steel. It was always intended that it have an integral and appropriate architectural lighting scheme, to bring it alive during the darkness hours, and to underline its connection to modern technology as well as having the potential future facility to alter and adapt the look of the sculpture over time.
The original inspiration came from drive in cinema screen culture and the relationship between this and the wider economies of entertainment, spectacle and visual modes of public access.
Melbourne and Adelaide based lighting design specialists Bluebottle was asked to create a lighting design for “Silverscreen”. The project was led for them by Eduard Ingles, one of their senior designers, who has worked in this same context on previous Callum Morton works. He managed the project from the beginning to the final commission, and the Anolis equipment was supplied through BluebottleShop, the company’s sales division.
Having an environmental friendly lighting scheme was at the essence of the project, so Anolis was a perfect solution.
The Anolis ArcSource 6 RGBW fixtures are all carefully located in different positions within the sculpture and are powered by seven ArcPower 16×6 drivers, all of which was supplied through Anolis’s Australian distributor, the ULA Group.
Anolis was specified for its quality, IP rating – which is 68 and fully submergible – and because the brand has a great reputation for rugged construction, which is vital for any outdoor applications. The fact that the light engine offers smooth fully homogenised colour mixing was also important. It produces a great range of pastels and a proper white in addition to a full range of rich and beautiful saturates. Anolis was also very competitively priced.
Says Eduard Ingles, “The ArcSources are good, versatile fixtures”.
Apart from looking fabulous, using Anolis also brings all the other benefits of quality LED lightsources, like low maintenance and ongoing running costs.
The lighting is controlled via a Dynalite 8 push button panel, which triggers a pre-programmed Lanbox. There are two default lighting sequences, programmed by Bluebottle’s Ben Shaw, each of which runs for 5 minutes and incorporates 6 different static lighting states. The system is time-clock activated and runs daily from sunset to midnight.
Situated between two buildings on Dandenong Street, the whole “Silverscreen” concept is proving hugely popular with the general public as well as those involved with MUMA.
Callum Morton, Silverscreen 2010
The Marc and Eva Besen Commission
Monash University Museum of Art
Lighting Design: Bluebottle
Photo credits: John Brash or Greg Ford
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