(Newswire.net — June 22, 2013) London, UK — Long Knoll in Wiltshire was transformed today into a giant breast, with an illuminated ‘nipple’ sitting at the top of the hill. The nipple beacon was constructed using 2700 plastic bottles, each of which was lit by fibre optic lighting apparatus. The project was the result of a collaboration between cancer charity Cancerkin and lighting designer Bruce Munro.
After losing a friend to breast cancer, Munro decided to raise awareness of breast cancer by creating a unique installation. Like so many other lighting sculptures, fibre optic lighting was able to provide a solution to the challenges of the installation. Fibre optics is a simple technology that Munro has worked wth for many years. Speaking about his passion for expression through light, Munro said
“For me the process of creating gives me a positive feeling, one that I hope to share through my work. I have been fascinated by light since my childhood, especially memories of sunlight. In my late teens and early twenties, I realised that light touches everything, and that’s where my journey working with light began.”
Each bottle was lit by one fibre point, with the resulting effect of the entire dome glowing purple and blue(the colours of Cancerkin). A total of five projectors provided the entire illumination through 2700 points of light. Energy consumption is considerably lower using the fibre optic technology in this case, as well as the relative ease of installing a light point in each plastic bottle.
Robbie Gordon of DesignLight is another designer who has specialised in fibre optic lighting for over twenty years. Gordon has been involved in large-scale optical fibre installations such as the ‘Alba di Milano’, an Italian Millennium project which was one of the largest fibre optic lighting sculptures ever created. The use of fibre optics for the project is a pleasant surprise for him. “Having put fibre optic lighting into every type of application imaginable, I am always excited to hear of it being used for artistic display” Gordon said. Regarding the application of fibre optic lighting for the beacon, Gordon was positive in commending Munro. He added, “It’s a typical success story of fibre optic lighting – small number of electric lightsources to protect from the elements, with an energy efficient outcome as well”.
The beacon is to be dismantled after Monday June 24, although plans are in place for display in the United States.
Contact Details:
Bruce Munro
Bruce Munro Ltd
Kilmington, Warminster
Wiltshire BA12 7HU
Tel: (0)1985 845 228
Email: info@brucemunro.co.uk
Robbie Gordon
DesignLight
Surbiton, Surrey
KT5 8HR
Tel: 0208 972 1616
Mobile: 07428 827 561
Email: designlight@hotmail.co.uk