Light up

The perfect Christmas design project should be engaging, feature an element of sharing and should be just a little bit magic.

Multi-disciplinary interactive and lighting design consultancy Cinimod Studio’s DJ Light installation in Lima, Peru has all three.

Commissioned by energy company Endesa, the consultancy was briefed to create a large-scale installation that tapped into the South American party atmosphere that surrounds Christmas in the continent.

In just six weeks the studio produced DJ Light, a large outdoor installation which features beautifully-lit orbs of colour and a podium from which the magic starts. From this ‘dj booth’ a person at a time can create patterns of light with wizard-like prowess, accompanied by generative music system played across an 8-channel surround sound system.

Members of the public can wander around the 85 2.5m diameter globes, experience the changing environment controlled by the ‘DJ’ and getting into the party spirit.

Nearly all of the elements of the installation, including the blow-up spheres and the LED lights that inhabit them, have been created bespoke for the installation.

Cinimod Studio creative director Dominic Harris suggests that the appeal of the installation is the ability to engage fully all the elements and share the experience with their friends.

He explains, ‘Andy Warhol talked about having 15 minutes of fame and with DJ Light any one person can have complete control over the environment.’

Harris has seen children as young as four take their place on the podium and grannies seem to have enjoying playing DJ as well. ‘It really does involve everyone,’ he says.