The newly launched Gasworks Plaza element of this project stands below the superstructure of the former gas storage ring which still majestically towers above the land below ... and has now been illuminated with over 500 Anolis LED lighting fixtures.
These bring its Victorian architecture to life in a spectacular lighting and sound installation concept bridging the gap between its former functionality and its new funkiness.
The old gasworks that once stood on the site adjacent to the Brisbane River was opened in 1887 and provided lighting to the Brisbane area for decades. Now it is living, breathing and being appreciated again with the intricate and beautiful colours unique to gas flames.
These 'flames' linking past-to-present on the classic steel structure were the brainchild of lighting designer Heath Williamson of Brisbane creative lighting practice Firefly, who collaborated closely with Jono Perry, technical director of the Brisbane Festival.
The pair have over 30 years aggregate experience in the event and theatre production and cinematography industries ... plus a huge connection with the structure.
It was Williamson who initially pushed the Newstead area's developers FKP to let him re-imagine the landmark Gas Ring as a giant public sculpture for all to enjoy.
Once this had received the green light, he had an open brief to bring the specific sense of colour, kinesys and fluidity he wanted to the art ... and he chose to work with Anolis.
He chose Anolis because it is a quality LED brand, for the great service offered by Australian distributors' The ULA Group and because he wanted to use cutting-edge technology for the scheme.
The Gas Ring is 40m in diameter with a circumference of 152m and features 20 spires each 20m tall.
Anolis ArcDots - a super-bright Cree MC-E RGBW multichip based LED 'pixel' fixture with an IP67 rating for good weather resistance - are used on every bracing cross-member of steel on the middle and top rings, which are approximately 1200mm apart. There are also five runs of seven ArcDots at 1200mm spacings on every fourth spire, and a further 40 units up-light the finials at the top of each spire.
In addition to these, 60 Anolis ArcSource 96s are utilised to up-light the main frames of each of the 20 spires ... and 20 x ArcSource Integral MCs are ensconced in the ground beneath the trees around the Gasometer to complement the glowing metal.
All the lighting is controlled via an e:cue DMX system which was programmed by Williamson and Perry. Perry produced four special 10 minute musical tracks for a weekend lightshow which plays out on Friday and Saturday nights. During the week the Ring is lit after dark in a signature scheme of different colours depending on season, events, etc. The fixtures were supplied to the project by The ULA Group and installed on site by Eltech Electrical.
(Jim Evans)
