The Links by DE-SO Asia : Exhibition
• scenography • exterior design • sophisticated
“The Links” is an exhibition that explores the connection between identity, context, and sustainability in architecture and urbanism held by an urban planning agency in Ho Chi Minh city. A two-day event and a total of 19 meaningful projects were on display offering a bucolic parenthesis amidst the city center on the weekend.
In the lighting design for The Links exhibition, kobi thought of light in accordance with the functions of lighting, and our ambition was to create the most favorable conditions for visitors to explore, discover, and learn.
The setting
In the maze of winding streets of HCMC is a preserved, hidden, magical place. Welcome to City Garden, hidden in Thao Dien, District 2.
The exhibition has been arranged outdoors, around a small lake and surrounded by green trees. It is in this place of nature nestled in the city that an ephemeral exhibition was held, lit by kobi lighting studio.
The challenges for kobi lighting studio were to create a lighting design that can leverage the visitor experience, convey the message of all the great works being exhibited, highlight and illuminate the objects as well as the space without causing any disturbance to the surrounding environment. In other words, we had to find an approach that could connect nature, landscape design, and architecture through light.
An exhibition to be remembered
One of the lighting designer’s missions is to make sure the lights illuminate the right objects with an appropriate brightness to accommodate the sense of sight of the viewers. For the exhibition, we highlighted the works by creating contrasts between lights and space to guide the eyes of visitors by subtly telling them where to look.
Our artistic process at kobi lighting studio had to go through an understanding and study of natural elements, materials, surfaces, colors, shapes of objects, context, and the final intention, the desired effect of the exhibitionist. We constantly wondered what effect the object that is enlightened by us would have: What should catch the eye? What do we choose to leave in the dark? What emotion do we want to create?
Design for a flawless visitor experience
Besides the emotion, the lighting designer also thinks of the technical aspects that he shall solve. For example, even if the visitor stands very close to the panels, we have made sure that their shadows would not hide the projects on display so that the latter remain perfectly lit.
In the end, precise and appropriate lighting ensures a smooth and flawless visit: not only does it make the exhibition visible, but it also offers visitors a unique experience.
Shining light on great projects
For The Links project, we put ourselves in the shoes of both visitors and the artists or architects whose works were on display.
When looking at each project exhibited at The Links, we attempt to figure out what message do the exhibitionists want to communicate? How can we convey the values of the work carried out over the past 15 years by French urban planners and architects to visitors?
As a result, the lights are designed to perfectly illuminate the projects on display, and bring clear visions to visitors whether it is day or night. Visitors were able to admire the 19 projects without any disturbance, and the lighting played a role as a translator for the unspoken messages hidden in the works created by talented artists and architects.
Focus on Models
Apart from all the admirable works on display, The Links exhibition also showcased some models which are reduced-size physical representations of a structure. The challenge for the lighting was to breathe life into the mockups and let them reveal the architectural visions behind the projects laying on the rippling waters that will turn into a black lake at dusk.
We considered that the models are pieces of inspiration that describe a possible way of living, a harmony of nature and architecture, and a connection between identity, context, and sustainability. Because of all the values that a model could add to our society and environment, we wanted to create well-thought-out lighting, which illuminated them properly both day and night while not interfering with the nocturnal habitat.
kobi lighting studio chose to shine the light on them by customizing special flutes in cooperation with Corretto Atelier of lights to form a magnificent light accent on the models.
Enhanced by the lights, the models captivated the attention of visitors at the first sight. Later when they approached a model, it unfolded all the details and gave them the whole project scale designed for the interactions between space, nature, people, and their movements.
Client: DE-SO Asia
Event: The Links Exhibition
Lighting designer: kobi lighting studio
Lighting Craftsmen: Corretto Atelier of lights
Photo credit : Giuseppe de Francesco