Our Collaboration with Zak Ové and The White Wall Company
We are delighted to share our involvement in the lighting design for Black Starliner, a monumental outdoor sculpture by British-Trinidadian artist Zak Ové. Currently exhibited at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, this impressive 13-metre-tall installation celebrates African history and culture.
Our Contribution to Black Starliner
We were commissioned by The White Wall Company, a leading UK-based fabrication specialist, to interpret the artist’s vision for the lighting elements of the sculpture and deliver a custom lighting installation that enhanced its visual impact.
Our experience with MADRIX lighting control and lighting communication protocols informed our design approach, ensuring pixel precision and consistent brightness across every element.
Our approach included:
Lighting Design: We specified and supplied fixtures that highlighted the sculpture’s intricate details and grand scale, captivating viewers into the night. Using pixel tape, encapsulated LED dots, and custom beam LEDs, we created impactful lighting across the sculpture’s key focal points..
Control System Development: Our team engineered a custom control system delivering adaptable lighting effects for different viewing conditions and events. The system manages and distributes protocols, such as sACN, DMX, and SPI. It includes an inbuilt schedule for on/off control and a data network for remote management. The system is triggered by set timings and accepts external triggers, including audio feeds.
The same expertise we use in immersive gym lighting, spin studio lighting, and performance-based projects guided this creative yet technical solution.
Collaborative Assembly and Testing: After developing the control system in the UK, we collaborated with The White Wall Company at their Erith workshop to assemble and test the sculpture in sections. This meticulous process ensured seamless integration of lighting and structure before transporting it to Abu Dhabi. We created automated sample lighting bundles, enabling The White Wall Company to test resin castings and stained glass/3D prints with our recommended fixtures. This approach supported rapid research, development, and testing to achieve Zak Ové’s exact design vision.
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A Fusion of African Heritage and Futurism
Black Starliner exemplifies Zak Ové’s exploration of the African diaspora and its cultural narratives. The sculpture combines traditional African aesthetics with Afro-futuristic design, bridging the past and future. Ové’s work frequently explores identity and heritage, reinterpreting these themes through a contemporary lens. This masterpiece culminates in a bold representation of heritage and modernity, a starship to the future.
Check out a timelapse of the full installation.
As well as creating Black Starliner, Zak Ové recently designed masks for the ‘Masquerave’ at Louvre Abu Dhabi, featuring the Grammy Winning DJ Black Coffee. You can check out our previous installation for Black Coffee here.
Invitation to Collaborate
For artists, sculptors, and galleries seeking to elevate their projects with innovative lighting solutions, our work on Black Starliner showcases our ability to bring creative visions to life. At envisio, we design custom lighting installations and control systems tailored to unique artistic projects. From concept to completion, we collaborate closely with creators to ensure every detail aligns with their vision.
