GLP impression X5 illuminates the ABOUT YOU Fashion Circus

As part of Berlin Fashion Week, the online fashion retailer ABOUT YOU staged a sensational mix of fashion, circus and entertainment in a Roncalli circus tent on 4th July. For one day, the ‘ABOUT YOU Fashion Circus’ enchanted celebrities, the press and fashion enthusiasts alike.

Light Art Studios GmbH of Hamburg created the lighting design for the complex event and managed the project on behalf of the technical planner, Potsdam’s adhoc engineering GmbH, from CAD planning through pre-production and pre-programming to operating the company’s own grandMA3 system.

Eight fashion brands presented themselves in an original Circus Roncalli tent as part of a two-hour show that was accompanied by artistic performances, circus acts and presentations. To illuminate the varied productions, lighting designer and Light Art Studios managing director Raphael Grebenstein chose 120 GLP impression X5 Compact, 16 impression X5 and 29 GLP impression X4 Bar 10.

Fashion circus show requirements
The combination of the circus theme, the selected location and the various shows presented the technical team with several challenges, as Raphael recalls: “The concept of a fashion show with strong dance and artistic performances in a circus tent naturally brings with it some restrictions – especially in terms of space and loads that can be incorporated. After creating the initial mood boards and content of the individual fashion shows, we developed the lighting plan, step by step, and continually adjusted it to achieve the best possible result.

Of course, the fashion brands themselves needed to be the focus despite all the surrounding shows. Therefore, it was our job to give each brand a unique look. We achieved this on the one hand with the help of different performances (e.g. dance, artistry, clowning, DJ sets) and on the other, most importantly, through the lighting moods used. We also had to take into account the camera technology and the requirements of the show acts.”

impression X5 Compact
In addition to rigging, lighting and sound, the artists also brought considerable loads into the rig, which further limited the possibilities of the individual technical disciplines. With the GLP impression X5 Compact they chose an extremely space-saving, lightweight and yet extremely flexible solution, which also integrated elegantly into the show in the floor set. 

“Nevertheless, high output and good colour reproduction were very important in this project, so we were definitely right to select the X5 Compact,” adds Ole Güllich, co-managing director of Light Art Studios GmbH. “With its light and slim baseless design, it worked very well, both in the rig and on the ground.”

A 12-metre truss circle was installed over the centre, on which 30 impression X5 were placed. The truss circle in the tent roof reflected the approximately 60-centimetre high outer ring of the arena underneath, on which 28 impression X5 Compacts were installed. In the stands behind the audience, another 28 X5 Compacts served as effects and audience backlights.

A ground support, draped with fabric, was built for the performance portal, on which the remaining impression X5 Compact, some impression X5 Wash and all impression X4 Bars 10 were installed. The remaining X5 Wash provided high-quality lighting on the red carpet, which of course cannot be overlooked at a fashion show.

The impression X5 Compact, which played the main lighting role in this show, is no stranger to the Light Art Studios team. “We have already used the fixtures in various TV productions and know their qualities. It was simply the ideal choice for this project,” concludes Raphael.

Client: ABOUT YOU.

Head creative: Justine McIlhargey (ABOUT YOU).

Choreography: Jay Revell (Black Skull Creative).

Technical planning and management: adhoc engineering GmbH.

Director: Malte Joergens.

Lighting planning, design and pre-production: Light Art Studios GmbH.

Technical service provider: PRG.

Photos: Courtesy of GLP.