Monday, November 25, 2024
Lighting Designer Chiara Carucci On Preserving The Darkness
Live Design Online: Chiara Carucci, a Europe-based lighting designer, has been named winner of the first ever Wildlife Night Watch Award from DarkSky International. The DarkSky Awards are given in recognition of designers working to protect the night from light pollution.
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3 comments:
The intersection between environment conservation and design is so intriguing to me because theatre and the entertainment industry at large is such a wasteful industry that it has never really occurred to me that we can still try to be environmentally friendly where we can. Designing for the outdoors seems like such a unique challenge and I think being able to do that successfully really speaks to the level of detail a designer puts in their work and it also speaks to how good and thoughtful of a designer someone is. I never really thought about how lighting outdoor spaces would affect the animals and natural elements that reside there but now after reading this article, I think every time I am outside at night, this will be on the top of my mind. Overall, this was a super enlightening article and I highly recommend that people who want to design read it regardless of whether or not they ever design for the outdoors.
Many people in the entertainment industry are beginning to take the environment into account when producing performances. This article poses an interesting point of view because it dips more into architectural lighting but many creative fields borrow and adapt concepts and techniques from other industries. The main industry I see some of these architectural lighting tips translating to is that of concerts. Many concerts are known for large amounts of light pollution as well as overwhelming amounts of noise all affecting the environment around the venue. I personally think of the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado and their connection to the environment. The venue is situated at the beginning of the foothills and is encased in large red rocks and no ceiling. Venues such as Red Rocks need to think about how their performances may affect the wildlife in the area. By using Chiara Carucci’s methods many venues can become more conscious of their environment and create new unique experiences that still allow audiences to enjoy a show.
Light pollution is a super important issue to me, especially because it’s one that we can so easily and quickly fix. Growing up in Boston, never seeing the stars, and then moving to rural Massachusetts where it gets pitch black has shown that to me. Something that I think needs to be explored more, which Carucci does, is that the solution to light pollution is not necessarily no light, but it can be new lights, new ways of using existing lights– for example new street lamp designs. Thinking about the use of lights in historical contexts is really interesting. Lighting up historical venues all night, and also being mindful of the light pollution it may cause, is tricky. You want the light to be useful that people can visit at night time, but not so bright that it creates light pollution. The checklist she says at the end is also very valuable. It makes sense that all these variables factor into the ecological effect of lighting, and it’s super interesting to hear about the key things a professional has taken away from their work.
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