Describing his approach, Event Concept's designer Dan Terry says: "I wanted a rise and fall in lighting levels as visitors walk through the space as well as contrasts in colour; the open areas are lit in bright desert tones, while the buildings are more darkly atmospheric, with strands of brilliant white light to recreate sunbeams through windows. As many of the displays have written explanations, it was also important to provide adequate levels of lighting for visibility."
Jo Woolley, exhibition leader at the National Army Museum, adds: "It was a challenging exhibition in many respects, not least because of the need to convey a gritty, authentic atmosphere to reflect the nature of the content. Apart from supporting the object displays, the lighting design was essential to create the right aura."
Event Concept also won the contract to design the exhibition's launch event; a reception and private view for 250 held in the museum's theATRIUM space. During the day the area is used as a shop which is later masked off to create a blank canvas for entertaining.
Terry reports: "The obvious design route for the launch party was to imitate the exhibition setting. Instead, I decided to use soft blues and ripple effects to create a contrasting, tranquil design that would make guests feel very comfortable. When they would later enter the exhibition space, the recreation of the war zone would have maximum impact."
(Jim Evans)
