UK - A.C. Lighting's Projects division has completed the supply and installation of gallery lighting for the Natural History Museum's new T.rex: The Killer Question exhibition. The exhibition bases its killer question on new scientific evidence that suggests the T.rex may not have been capable of killing for food at all, but that it relied on prey already killed and devoured by other predatory dinosaurs. Visitors are given the chance to compare the red-faced scavenger T.rex with the more familiar, roaring and predatory dinosaur to make their own decision about how they lived.

A.C. was awarded the contract after supplying a cost-effective solution requiring minimal upgrading of the existing gallery fixtures to accomplish all theatrical lighting aspects of the brief. Throughout the build project manager Ray Dolby worked closely with the exhibition's designer, Trista Quenzer, to ensure that the lighting brought the right atmosphere and dramatic feel to each particular scene. Effects used included patterned gobos to give static model displays a theatrical feel and enhance their minimal scenery. Timed lighting sequences were also used to help reveal information and unfold the story. Directional up lighting of skeleton bone structures created eerie shadowing effects on the surrounding surfaces and emphasized size differences between dinosaur species. For animatronic models providing their own dynamism, strong shadows and colour were used enhancing the menacing and gory aspects of these scenes.

Trista Quenzer, the exhibition's designer commented: "I am extremely pleased with the result, Ray Dolby came up with a realistic solution to my brief and imaginatively used a limited budget. The A.C. team was a very professional, friendly group who worked with us to a tight installation deadline. They were always willing to demonstrate different fittings and experiment to achieve the effects I required."

A.C. Lighting can be found on stand J32 at the PLASA show.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)


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