Océan en Voie D’illumination
Paris Festival Of Lights 2019
Jardin Des Plantes, Paris
Commissioned by: China Light Festival (Belgium) | Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (France)
A global conservation message by a global team, Océan en Voie D’illumination is a 2.5km immersive art experience designed by Public Art Australia. Premiered in Paris, France, in partnership with the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle and China Light (Belgium) this significant ocean awareness exhibition features 852 hand-crafted light sculptures.
Architectural Design (Urban Design & Public Spaces), Australia’s International Good Design Awards 2020
(selected from 835 design projects)
Best Achievement in Design, Look or Theming, The Australian Event Awards 2020
'This exhibition is a bespoke immersive temporary urban experience using the collaborative skills of many design specialists - industrial designers, theatrical set and lighting designers, electrical and mechatronics engineers and composers. It's a great initiative to highlight and communicate a clear global conservation message through a well themed memorable traveling exhibition. '
(Good Design Awards Jury Feedback)
‘A magical and entertaining exhibition, but this exhibition has above all a purpose.. to send a message about biodiversity’
(Michel Saint Jalme, Director, Paris Zoological Park)
Exhibition Video Edit [3.37min]
Audience feedback (translated from French):
‘Exquisite!’
‘The experience was extraordinary, I was amazed by the engineering’
‘The first time I saw such a light show, it was very very special’
‘A very beautiful and delicate experience’
Placing critical importance on design innovation, Océan en Voie D’illumination represents where art meets new technology. Public Art Australia developed a bespoke international team of specialists to design each piece within the Océan en Voie D’illumination collection, comprising of industrial designers, theatrical set and lighting designers, electrical engineers and sound designers. United in a passion for conservation, this is a unique, border-transcending design team from Australia, Mongolia, China, Germany, England, France and Peru.
A design process built on a solid base of vital science research successfully achieved a narrative ‘light walk journey’ through each ecological/habitat zone of the ocean.
Placing critical importance on design innovation, Océan en voie d’illumination represents where art meets new technology. All sculptures are designed in easily disassembled parts, as a part of a complex travel system of 28 x 40ft containers. This componential approach to the systems design facilitates a unique site design for an equally effective experience of the collection at each tour location.
The Making of Océan en Voie D’illumination Video Edit [0.36min]
‘I think that the ocean is in danger and that we need to raise awareness around the environment, because even though it is large, it is not infinite. We have to take care of it. There is nothing better than to show and talk about the beauty of the ocean.’
(Bruno David, President, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle)
Production Credits:
Artistic Direction & Lead Design: Lucy Keeler
Sound Design: Miles Nicholas
Lighting Design: Charles Coy & Blake Garner
Design: Julian Reinhold, Tumen-Erdene Altangadas, Zara Pasfield, Renzo Larriviere
Research: Public Art Australia & Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle
Construction: China Light Festival (Belgium) & Sichuan Tianyu Culture Communication Co.
Acknowledgement: The Paris edition of Océan en Voie D’illumination features the Great White Shark and Olive Ridley Turtle, designed in collaboration with Nicholas Tory for Global Endangered Wildlife