Martin used 12 x BMFL Blades, eight BMFL Spots and 12 x Pointes for the lighting element of his piece, which mixed the mediums of lighting and monumental projection to illuminate a section of the wall approximately 100m long.
The idea was to build a 10-minute animated show that painted the wall with light ... examining the connection between the ancient stone wall and the cutting-edge technology of the lighting fixtures that are bringing it to life in multiple layers. Using this "magnificent historical heirloom as a canvas for the work was the challenge" explains Martin whose aim was to create beautiful and profound images without these overshadowing the wall complete with the glory and memories of the past.
The week-long annual event enabled the public to see and appreciate the city with some completely new perspectives through the work and imaginations of a series of carefully selected Israeli and international light artists. The unique and vibrant results drew in over 250,000 visitors to the historically significant city.
Martin had seen the BMFL Blades - supplied by Danor Rental - in action on some other shows and in fact, Photographia was conceptualized after seeing the technical abilities of the fixtures. "The brightness, the optics and the variety of possibilities made me want to explore with them on a wide canvas," he explains.
There was no soundtrack to the show, so people could really concentrate on the visual pictures and let their thoughts and imaginations flow as the lighting and projection sequences unfolded. They were transfixed by the beauty and power of the giant images.
The versatile feature set of the BMFLs allowed Martin to create a huge array of looks, presented as animations, and the framing shutters helped produce super-bright slices of light mixed in with intricate patterns. He also projected lighting onto the amassed crowds enveloping them in the installation.
Lighting was programmed and controlled by Ronen Ben Harush, and the reactions from the public and the various professional staff working on the event were hugely positive.
(Jim Evans)
