Irish lighting designer Conor Biddle, known for lighting some of the largest acts in
dance and electronica, selected an array of Claypaky moving heads to illuminate
the return of Ireland’s mega-rave, the Winterparty, at Dublin’s 14,500-capacity
venue 3Arena.
Biddle employed 12 x Mythos, 12 x A.leda K20, 16 x A.leda K10 and 19 x Sharpy
which were provided by Dublin-based sound and light specialist Session Hire.
“The key with Winterparty was to create a signature look that would photograph
well and go towards building a strong visual brand on social media,’ explains
Biddle. “I wanted to create an immersive show that detracted from the cavernous
feel of the 3Arena by bringing the lighting right to the audience.’
One of the fixtures the designer most relied on to lead his effects was the Claypaky
Mythos.
Mythos is one of the leading professional hybrid entertainment luminaires. It is an
excellent 470 watt-lamp spotlight, producing an outstanding large light beam and
featuring a zoom that ranges from 4° to 50° (1:12 ratio). It is also an extraordinary
beam light, allowing lighting designers to switch to a minimum fixed-beam angle of
just 2.5°. A large, very dense, 160 millimetre-diameter light beam leaves the
Mythos’s front lens and remains parallel for its entire length, even at great
distances.
Winterparty’s lighting rig also featured three ten-foot wide X-shaped trusses rigged
with the Claypaky Sharpys and A.leda K10 and K20 washes. By using the three
fixtures, Biddle created a web of diverse beam sizes and colours that captured the
crowds.
The Sharpys’ super-fast laser-like beam cut into audiences and burst into prism
effects using the fixtures 8-facet rotating prism and interchangeable gobo wheel.
Whilst the A.leda K10’s and 20’s simultaneously weaved wider and
perfectly parallel tubes of light. The fixtures drew on endless colour variations that
were enabled by the light’s intelligent “pixelated’ front lens. The lens allows for a
multitude of “mini beams’; each beam can act as an individual pixel for rippling eye-
candy effects or join together to power stunning washes.
The high-output moving heads also ensured that Biddle’s design could hold its own
the event’s video elements which were designed by Kev Freeney from digital video
specialists, Algorithm.
“Kev and I work a lot together,’ says Biddle. “We are used to creating cohesive
designs in which lighting and visuals complement each other. I was really happy
with the outcome of Winterparty – we created some great distinct looks and got
some fantastic feedback from the client, artists and punters.’
Winterparty, which returned to the Irish club scene after a 12-year hiatus on
Sunday 30th October 2016, was organised by club promoter POD Presents.
Welcoming the event back in style was headliner Sven Vath, the godfather of techno
and boss of Cocoon Records. The line-up also starred UK house producer Daley
Padley – aka Hot Since 82 – the man behind the legendary Knee Deep label and
parties and a rare DJ set from Ivor-Novello-nominated film score composer Jon
Hopkins.
