The Red Bull Elektropedia Awards (photo: Simon Leloup)
Belgium - The massive art deco building bordering the Ixelles Ponds at the edge of Place Flagey Square has been at the heart of Belgium’s rich musical and cultural history since it opened in the 1930s.
Originally called Maison de la Radio, but now known simply as the Flagey, the building provided a suitable setting for the 2018 edition of the Red Bull Elektropedia Awards, an all-Belgium annual event honouring rising stars and outstanding achievements in the country’s burgeoning music scene.
Thomas Boets created a lighting design for the popular event that paid homage to its 2018 venue, while still reflecting the contemporary artistry of its honourees. Helping him in this endeavour were 380 pixel-mapped ÉPIX Strip IP fixtures from Chauvet Professional, supplied by L&L Stage Service.
“The Flagey is iconic, and our show took place in the building’s Studio 4 (home of the renowned Brussels Philharmonic), which gave us a very special setting to work in,” says Boets of Light Design Productions.
A dramatic part of that setting is the massive organ on the back wall. Boets wanted to accentuate this legendary scenic element, yet at the same time endow the stage with a techy digital vibe to reflect the flavour of the event. To do this he placed a portrait LED wall along the back of the stage, and in front of it positioned a curved LED raster with the ÉPIX Strip IP fixtures. He also accented the stairs with LED lighting.
“Studio 4 is a very classic room, so we wanted integrate its features as much as possible into our design,” says Boets. “At the same time, we also wanted the event to look very high tech. This is why we chose to have the raster and the ÉPIX Strips work together to create a very futuristic look. We also lit the bombastic organ at the back of the stage to coordinate with the ÉPIX Strips and the central portrait LED wall. This gave our stage greater depth and created a unique dimension.”
Boets credits the people he worked with at the Elektropedia Awards with helping the complex light and video show go smoothly. Included in this group are Francis Weyns of Jet Imports, video specialists Jo Pauly and Sander de Schrijver, light operator Frederik Heerinckx, director Bonanza Fred Di Bono, production manager Satisfactory Geert Delbaere, and content creator Pieter de Kegel and Filip Joos.
“We all worked together to create something special,” says Boets. “Because the whole room already had a fantastic look and feel, we chose not to add extra decor, but to create a technical setup. This is why we chose to work out a whole grid using the strips. The room makes a powerful statement, and our lighting gave that statement a direction that reflected well on the event.”
(Jim Evans)

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