To commission a light art installation, you choose a site with a story, agree a clear idea, plan power, safety and crowd flow early, and leave time to test in the dark. The artwork is only half the job.
We made the Freedom Tunnel for Illuminate Plymouth, wrapping the historic firestone arches at Royal William Yard in light and colour. Here is how we would approach a commission.
choose a site with a story
The best light work responds to where it is. The Freedom Tunnel sits in the only tunnel linking Royal William Yard to Plymouth Sound, so lighting it highlighted a connection between past and future. A site with meaning gives the work a reason to exist.
explore ideas before you commit
Sketch and visualise a wide range of ideas across the site before choosing one. It costs little, and it shows you and the commissioner what is possible. We drew many concepts for Illuminate before settling on the tunnel.
plan power, safety and access
Light art needs power, secure fixings and clear routes. Talk to the site owner early about cabling, weather, who is on site and what happens in a crowd. These practicalities shape the design, so they should not come last.
think about the crowd
A festival piece is seen by many people at once. Plan how they will move through, where they will stop to film and how the work looks from a distance and up close. The Freedom Tunnel was a portal people could walk through and frame themselves in.
test it in the dark
Light behaves differently at night, so leave time for testing and adjusting on site. Colour, brightness and timing all look different once the sun goes down.
think about what happens after
Good work can outlive the event. Because of popular demand, the Freedom Tunnel stayed at Royal William Yard for several months after the festival finished. Ask early whether a piece could stay, and what that would need.
“Attendees and local media widely praised the installation for its spectacular visual impact.”
light artists in plymouth
We are a creative studio in Plymouth making light art and spatial installations for festivals and public spaces across the UK. If you are planning a commission, send us your project details and we’ll get back to you within a few days.