The ARC Show 2011 – an inspiration and education in light…
The ARC Show is Europe’s only trade event dedicated to architectural, retail and commercial lighting. It displays the best from the world’s leading lighting manufacturers and represents an opportunity to source for a variety of projects, from large-scale retail environments through to general public lighting.
Big names for the 2011 show include Arrow Electronics, Sill Lighting, Xenon Architectural Lighting, Toshiba, Wever & Ducre, Artistic Licence, Anglia Lighting, The Light Corporation, PhotonStar, Occhio, Cooper Controls, Ligman Lighting, Megaman and BAG Electronics. Products on offer will range from the latest in LED technology and lighting controls to large-scale decorative lighting.
The show will carry several feature areas, designed to display the best products from specific areas of lighting.
The entrance of the show will display the Design Gallery, which features a number of cutting-edge, bespoke lighting designs, designed for the focal point of a room such as a bar or hotel lobby. Exhibitors in this area include 2b Delighted, Albioncourt, B.Lux, Dark Lighting, Studio Italia Design and Wever & Ducre.
Carrying on with the decorative theme, visitors can also view three exclusive preview installations from Kinetica Art Fair. These unique installations from Italy, Spain and South Korea will explore the interwoven complexities between scientific developments and the human condition though the convergence of art, science and technology.
The first installation comes from Ga Young Jun from South Korea, ‘Whistling Sea’ is inspired by the Jeju Sea and uses hanji paper to ooze transparent sea colours and hues, including light seen through the eyes of impressionist painters, such as ultramarine, peacock blue, yellow, green and pink.
Carlo Bernardini will create “Permeable space” with his ‘Light Works’ piece; light will generate space with an optical fibre line passing from room to room piercing the walls and the floors, combining the external environment with the internal one.
Finally, Alex Posada will present ‘The Particle’, an installation inspired by the creation of the earth. It translates the process of complex molecule formation into the language of light by experimenting with colour, sound and movement, creating space for a sensory and kinaesthetic experience.
Two new areas for this year will focus on urban and retail lighting, both increasingly on the social and environmental agenda. An Urban Lighting Showcase will display the latest products and solutions for street, park, mixed use public space and public buildings. Exhibitors include Kromis-bis, Elstead Lighting and Fatoso Tec-Light.
The second area, dedicated to retail lighting, is designed to create a real impact through light using the latest technology, all the while focusing on reducing energy consumption, costs and carbon footprints. Companies include PJR Engineering, Illuma, MJ Lighting and Iguzzini.
Also at the show is a Lighting Controls Demonstration, run by the Lighting Association and the prestigious International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) Enlighten Europe Conference, where the global lighting industry’s leading experts meet for two days of education and discussion around key topics such as LEDs and Urban lighting.
Speakers include Durham Marenghi, founder of HDTV , speaking on The Stadium as Theatre for HDTV and Jason Bruges, Creative Director and Founder of Jason Bruges Studio, talking on Artistic Interactions in the Public Realm. Other topics include LEDs, where a panel of experts, including representatives from Cree and Osram UK, will discuss the latest developments in LED technology.
Also new to the IALD Conference is a talk and walk from one of the world’s leading urban lighting designers – Leni Schwendinger. NightSeeing™ London will form two parts with the first section comprising a LightTalk, providing a basic understanding of the systems lighting our cities. The second aspect, LightWalk, will see delegates led on a walk after-dark where Leni will decode the shadows, emanations and reflections that define the nightscape, from shop silhouettes and signage to streetlights and the phantom photons of passing cars.
Leni, who has over 20 years experience as a lighting designer and public artist, commented: “The NightSeeing™ programme opens people’s eyes to an existing night-time environment as well as providing an overview of lighting theory. The streets and closes, nooks and crannies of Angel Islington are an ideal location for bright and shadowy discoveries on a LightWalk.
“Lighting designers work with architects, landscape architects, engineers and other urban design professionals to illuminate city structures and locations such as buildings, bridges, parks and streets, to make these sites visible and safe to walk at night. The NightSeeing programme focuses on an ever expanding variety of luminous possibilities.”
In addition, a number of free technical seminars from the Lighting Industry Federation will be on offer. Seminar topics range from ‘Turning Off the Streetlights - the latest thinking on the ‘Safety vs. Energy Debate’ regarding Street lighting’ and ‘Are you in control of your lighting ?’ which will look at the latest in lighting controls and intelligent lighting systems such as fluorescent, HID, LEDs and Halogen. Other seminars will focus on LEDs and energy consumption – two subjects high on the agenda for all lighting professionals.
Finally, The Society of Light and Lighting (SLL) will present their Young Lighter of the Year at the show. The competition provides a unique platform for young lighting students and professionals, to hold forth on a lighting subject of their choice, with an opportunity to win the considerable professional kudos of being chosen as the ‘SLL Young Lighter of the Year’. Find out this years winner on 12th January at 4pm at the SLL stand.
The ARC Show is designed to cater for everyone involved in the lighting sector, delivering education and inspiration for the year ahead, as well as the opportunity to source the latest lighting products and services. The ARC Show takes place at the Business Design Centre, London, from 12-13 January 2011. To register to attend to show, saving the onsite £15 fee, visit www.thearcshow.com