Barco illuminates the 2024 Shanghai International Light Festival with dazzling citywide installations

Context

The festival spanned thirteen iconic landmarks across Shanghai, each transformed into a grand visual spectacle that highlighted the city’s history, culture, and innovation. 

At Guanglu Building along the Suzhou River, six UDX-W40 projectors brought the building’s iconic curved façade to life, narrating Shanghai’s journey from its historical splendor to its present-day vibrancy. The city’s educational heritage was celebrated at the Guangming Middle School with a ‘light and shadow poem’ powered by twelve UDX-4K40s. 

Industrial heritage sites also featured prominently. The 80,000-ton silo on Minsheng Road, illuminated by twenty UDX-W40 projectors, showcased industry-leading geometric correction technology with unparalleled projection precision. Similarly, the WorldSkills Museum and the Yangshupu Power Plant Park were turned from industrial sites into visual scenes and showcases of creative innovation. 

The region’s natural beauty was highlighted at the Tank Shanghai Art Center with artistic renditions, at the Xuhui West Bund Dockyard with a G100-powered water curtain show and at the Jiangwan Sports Center with projectors illuminating the lush ancient trees. 

Additional installations included a synchronized architectural projection and water show at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, an immersive experience at the Shanghai Exhibition Center Dome, a futuristic light-and-shadow experience at the Yangpu Green Hill Exhibition Hall, mappings on the building of Shanghai Municipal Council, and the Zhang Yuan’s “Ancient Shu Dream” exhibition.
 

Challenge

The festival’s grand scale presented several challenges that required advanced technological solutions. First, the illumination of the various historical buildings, often characterized by intricate exteriors and textures, required precision projection to avoid image distortion and maintain clarity.

Shanghai’s humid and rainy climate, coupled with the proximity of multiple sites to water, necessitated robust waterproofing, and moisture-resistance measures. The significant temperature fluctuations between day and night posed additional risks to equipment reliability. Furthermore, the need for equipment to operate reliably over extended periods presents maintenance challenges, particularly in outdoor settings where accessibility can complicate repairs.

To conclude, the tight timeline for setup across numerous locations demanded efficient installation processes and minimal delays.
 

Solution

Barco overcame these challenges with a suite of innovations tailored to the festival’s demands. Over 200 Barco UDX, UDM, and G-series projectors were deployed in the project. 

Professional-grade protective enclosures ensured high levels of waterproofing and dustproofing, while temperature monitoring and remote support capabilities enhanced reliability in extreme conditions. The projectors’ modular design enabled easy maintenance and part replacement, ensuring consistent performance over the festival’s duration. 

Advanced imaging features and high brightness minimized interference from ambient light, delivering outstanding results across various architectural surfaces, from water curtains to intricate façades. The Barco projectors also feature extensive range of accessories and powerful software tools to streamline installation and optimize calibration and projection quality.
 

Results

Barco’s advanced projectors played a pivotal role in making the 2024 Shanghai International Light Festival a resounding success. By illuminating 13 iconic landmarks, Barco demonstrated its technological prowess and creative versatility, blending light and shadow artistry with the city’s cultural identity. From the industrial elegance of Yangshupu Power Plant Park to the immersive dome at the Shanghai Exhibition Center and the enchanting water curtain at Xuhui West Bund Dockyard, each installation was a feast for the senses, inspiring awe and wonder to the citizens of Shanghai and visitors from all over the world.

The festival not only elevated Shanghai’s global profile but also invited audiences to journey through its vibrant past, dynamic present, and promising future. Barco’s contribution turned the city into a shimmering canvas of light, where each installation told a unique story of transformation and hope. Through the subtle interplay of light and shadow, Barco enriched Shanghai’s nights and created memories that will resonate long after the festival’s conclusion.