Speirs + Major announces digital video project
(UK) - ‘Made of Light Too: A Closer Look at Light’ celebrates tenth anniversary of best-selling book 'Made of Light: The Art of Light and Architecture' with twelve visual experiences based on themes central to light.
Mark Major, Keith Bradshaw and James Newton - a freelance photographer working on projects concerning architecture, design and the built environment, with a focus on light as the subject - have announced their collaboration on an exploratory digital video project, launched on Monday 16 November 2015 and running for twelve weeks until Sunday 31st January 2016.
‘Made of Light Too: A Closer Look at Light’ sees the creation and gradual dissemination of a series of twelve short, beautiful, thought-provoking visual experiences, each of which is an interpretation of a theme central to the world of light.
The project celebrates the tenth anniversary of the publication of ‘Made of Light: The Art of Light and Architecture’, taking its framework from the seminal best-selling book and extrapolating its chapters into a series of abstract video clips.
During the course of the project one video will be created and released each week, in response to the themes of Source, Contrast, Surface, Colour, Movement, Function, Space, Boundary, Scale, Image and Magic.
The series will build gradually into an evocative collection that celebrates the essence of light.
“It seems impossible that ten years have elapsed since we first published ‘Made of Light’. The book was part of a wider educational project about light that was also realised through a series of lectures in the UK, Europe and the US and a travelling exhibition that included the Royal Institute of British Architects in London, the Danish Design Centre in Copenhagen and other leading venues. We thought that it would be fitting to once again celebrate our passion for light - but this time through collaboration with the highly talented photographer and video maker James Newton. Our intention is that, by using digital media and then placing this work online, we can bring Made of Light to a whole new audience,” said Mark Major.
The videos are available to view at www.madeoflighttoo.com
#madeoflighttoo
www.speirsandmajor.com
www.jnphotographs.co.uk
darc awards finalist opens public art in Manchester
(UK) - Liz West opens Through No. 3 - a six-metre long triangular prism corridor of light and colour in Spinningfields, Manchester.
Liz West is working in partnership with Castlefield Gallery and Allied London on a brand new public art commission for Spinningfields, Manchester. Through No. 3 is a six-metre long triangular prism corridor of light and colour installed on Crown Square in Spinningfields from the 25 November 2015 to 6 January 2016. The artwork will be unveiled at 5:30pm on 25 November 2015, when it officially opens for the public to enter the artwork and see its surroundings through a spectrum of colours.
West’s Through No.3 continues the artist’s exploration of colour and light as primary material for artwork. The walk-through structure will encourage visitors to literally look at their surroundings in a different light.
West said: “Making your way inside the multi-coloured corridor through either side of the structure, visitors will see the world around them transformed by saturate colour. The coloured barrier between the outside and inside will create a multi-coloured striped cloak and distortion in an array of different hues, transforming the usual colourations and appearance of the outside environment.”
Working across a variety of mediums, West creates vivid environments with the aim of provoking a heightened sensory awareness in the viewer. She is interested in exploring how sensory phenomena can evoke psychological and physical responses that tap into our own deeply entrenched relationships to colour. Her intuitive and often playful approach to making sculpture and art installations leads to visually rich works that viewers cannot fail but to be drawn into. Underpinning West’s practice is Josef Albers’ colour theories and his Bauhaus teachings, which she references alongside an informed understanding of Newtonian optics and Goethe’s theory of visual perception.
#ThroughNo3
Aurora Group announces changes to brand structure
(UK) - International LED manufacturer implements three key changes to streamline brands for preparation into smart environments.
The Aurora Group has announced three key changes to its brand structure and market strategy to ensure the delivery of its new corporate mission – creating ‘Value Beyond Illumination’. This reflects Aurora’s commitment to the integration of new smart technologies in LED lighting and the associated Software as a Service (SaaS) proposition, which is set to change the way lighting is sold and monetised.
Microlights and Aurora Projects are merging under the Aurora brand to focus on the launch and development of Lighting 3.0 with Gooee Inside and to reposition itself as lighting’s smartest global brand; Aurora signed a license agreement in February 2015 with Gooee, the creator of the full-stack IoT lighting platform; and Enlite, which was launched in 2013, is set to become the core trade brand for the Group.
Microlights, the retail lighting specialists with over 30 years experience, has been part of the Aurora Group since 2009, and has a proven history in helping its customers improve their sales through specialist lighting applications.
By altering the way the Aurora Group is structured, it can capitalise on an ever-increasing number of opportunities, driven by the rapid evolution of the lighting industry. In doing so it can continue to offer the best products, the most up-to-date solutions, and the highest levels of customer satisfaction.
Andrew Johnson, Aurora Group’s CEO, said: “We currently focus on trade with Aurora and Enlite, however we plan to broaden our offering and channel our brands differently moving forward. By merging Microlights and Aurora Projects, we are positioning ourselves for the launch of next generation of smart luminaires and services whilst expanding national and international project-based solutions across five different sectors – retail, education, healthcare, commercial and industrial verticals - and maintaining our trade channel.”
Enlite offers products that are big on performance, high in quality and low on price through a dedicated sales team. Designed and manufactured to the highest standards of quality and reliability, Enlite products ensure trouble-free installation and maintenance.
“Globally, Enlite has performed exceptionally well since its launch and we consider it to be a highly successful trade offering. Providing quality products at mass market prices, it will increasingly become our core trade offer,” said Richard Sells, Aurora’s Group Managing Director.
Over the past few years, the Aurora Group has been growing at a rapid pace with lifetime sales in excess of US$1billion, expanding and transforming into a global lighting organisation.
Neil Salt, Managing Director of Aurora’s newly formed Smart division, commented: “We are all experiencing a paradigm shift as technology brings disruptive changes to our industry. Aurora is optimising its brands, strategy and product portfolio to develop the next generation of Lighting 3.0. Our license agreement with Gooee to use its IoT lighting ecosystem is the first milestone towards achieving our goals as we look forward to 2016 and beyond.”
Demonstrating the capabilities of Lighting 3.0 at LuxLive 2015, one of Europe’s largest lighting exhibitions, Aurora is the first lighting manufacturer to provide an insight into smart lighting using ‘Gooee Inside’.
“The integration of our brands will further shape the profile of the Aurora Group as a fast growing international smart lighting company whilst leveraging Aurora’s global brand equity. It will stand us in good stead for this new generation in lighting,” concluded Salt.
Fête des lumières cancelled
(France) - Following terrorist attacks in Paris, this year's event will become tribute to the victims.
New events occurring on Wednesday, have confirmed that a threat is still present at an elevated level. Therefore, in agreement with the Prefect of the Rhône-Alpes Region and with the Festival of Lights partners, in particular the founding members, the Festival of Lights cannot take place in the usual joyous way.
As it is one of the city's most emblematic events, the City of Lyon has decided to move this year's program to December 2016. This year, the Festival of Lights will become a tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in Paris. The tribute is scheduled for 8 December. On that day, the people of Lyon are requested to illuminate the city by placing lumignon candles in their windows. These candles will also be present on the Incity Tower and the "Pencil" building in the Part-Dieu district through scenographies that will be specially designed for the occasion.
In addition, the Saône quays and Fourvière Hill will present the work by Daniel Knipper entitled "Regards". Part of the initial program, this fresco composed of close-ups on the eyes of figures from the paintings of master artists will pay homage to the attack victims as it scrolls their names across facades on the quays.
From now until then, to encourage mobilisation, 200,000 lumignon candles will be handed out to schoolchildren and sold by volunteers from Lyon to raise money for the association of terrorist victims and the "Rêves" association, which is this year's beneficiary of the "Candles from the Heart" operation.
"To my way of thinking, protecting the people of Lyon does not mean giving in to terrorists. What they want above all is to sow discord and pit us one against another, to create ruptures in our society between groups according to their origin, their religion and the way they choose to live. I am convinced that December 8 will convey this message with a great deal of strength and dignity," stated Gérard Collomb, Senator-Mayor of Lyon and President of Lyon Métropole.
"This decision is a wise one. The government will be fully mobilised to guarantee optimal security for this new configuration of the Festival of Lights," affirmed Michel Delpuech, Prefect of the Rhône-Alpes Region and Prefect of the Rhône.
www.fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr
www.luciassociation.org
Rosco opens Middle East office
(USA) - Kees Frijters, Rosco's President of EMEA, to head new office in Dubai while continuing responsibilities in Europe, Asia and Africa.
"Rosco's product line is rapidly expanding in creative and exciting new directions, as is this part of the world," commented Frijters. "In line with Rosco's strategic objectives to invest in international markets, we intend to more effectively to support our local customer base and also capitalise on the growth opportunities in the region," he continued. To maximise the potential of the office in Dubai, Rosco's Chairman, Stan Miller and CEO Mark Engel, asked Frijters to relocate.
While Rosco has been operating in the Middle East for many years, it was apparent that in order to keep up with the rapid growth in that part of the world, and service its customers in a more efficient manner, a Rosco office in the UAE was the next step. "Our investment in this new office recognises the size and opportunity the Middle East holds," said Engel.
"Our existing client base in the region and the potential to expand Rosco globally make this the perfect time to make our mark in the UAE," continued Engel. "It was clear that to accomplish our objectives, it would require someone with knowledge of and experience with the full range of Rosco products and Kees Frijters is that person. Kees literally grew up with Rosco. His father owned a company that represented Rosco in Holland and Kees began his Rosco career 21 years ago as European Development Manager, then onto VP of European Operations before being appointed President of EMEA," he explained. "Dubai has become a world center for tourism, trade, retail, business and finance. The Rosco team and product line will be perfectly suited to support the large and innovative projects happening in the region, particularly in the burgeoning areas of film, television and architectural development," Engel concluded.
In addition to the new office in the UAE and its headquarters in the United States, Rosco maintains fully staffed businesses in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Chase the Dark sets world alight
(Worldwide) - IALD's third annual Chase the Dark sees 30 cities taking part - biggest participation yet.
Social media was alight on 1 October 2015 as the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) hosted its annual global Chase the Dark event. Now in its third year, this international lighting movement gained momentum with more than 30 cities participating – up from seventeen in its first year in 2013.
Open to anyone for participation, this year’s lighting concept was simple:
1) Create a unique lighting display or lit effect using only the flashlight function of a mobile phone.
2) Snap a photo and share it with the world via any social media network using the hashtag #IALDchasedark.
3) Watch as a wave of tweets, re-tweets, posts and comments brighten the globe one time zone at a time.
As the sun set westward across the globe from Sydney and Melbourne, Australia to the West Coast of the United States and Canada, more than 500 images were shared and more than 1,400 tweets were sent, resulting in over two million impressions on social media timelines across the globe.
Support from IALD India, the newest IALD region, came in strong, attracting over 300 participants from eight Indian cities including Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The IALD Greater China region also delivered high participation with Beijing, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Taipei joining in on the social media movement. Enormous support also poured in from Canada, Europe and Mexico; and a tweet from a solo lighting enthusiast in Jamaica was a standout moment as the event crossed over to the Americas.
In the past two years, IALD membership has grown by more than 40%, boasting more than 1,250 lighting practitioners in 54 countries. This annual global event serves as a means of bringing the lighting community together and keeping them connected. Chase the Dark revels in IALD members’ cultural differences and distinct design approaches, while engaging everyone in an identical activity that celebrates the power of light.
The Chase the Dark program has been generously sponsored for the third year running by LIRC member acdc, a member of the Zumtobel Group.
