“Chasing the Sun" is the central theme of the Australia Pavilion at Expo Osaka, showcasing Australia's unique energy, cultural diversity, creativity, and stunning natural landscapes. Designed by the Australian firm Buchan, the pavilion guides visitors on a unique immersive journey, following the sun's path through Australia's captivating landscapes. PROLIGHTS lighting solutions played a key role in enhancing the pavilion's immersive environment.

Lighting designers Ziggy Ziegler and Toby Sewell had complete creative freedom in selecting products and executing the lighting design. The four-month installation and programming phase, managed by Simple Motion in collaboration with Jason Fripp, strictly adhered to Japan's stringent technical standards, which require specific certifications for imported electrical equipment in terms of earthquake, typhoon, and fire resistance. PROLIGHTS fixtures were chosen for their compliance with regulatory requirements and compatibility with the project budget.

Versatile and aesthetically elegant, the PROLIGHTS StudioCob PlusFC seamlessly integrated into the scenography, even when directly exposed to the public. "The StudioCob is reliable and has excellent colour, the colour mix feels good," said Ziggy, “On the main stage, they were buried into the stage to act as footlights. They were powerful enough to light the performers in front of LED screens to be seen. We also had some of those on top of the retail outlets.”

The StudioCob PlusFC fixtures also contributed to creating soft, even lighting effects in the eucalyptus forest, highlighting tree trunks and projecting delicate leaf shadows from above with subtle colour tints. They were hidden among LED screens in the ocean-themed area, briefly immersing visitors in deep blue tones. In the VIP area, strategically placed behind copper-coloured decorative chains, they provided captivating amber-gold lighting and dynamic shadow effects, effectively replacing traditional overhead lighting. They were also used for general room lighting and additional stage support.

The EclProfile fixtures projected gobos, creating accent lighting effects in the eucalyptus forest. In the VIP areas, the EclProfile FWVW units with variable white LED sources generated multi-coloured shadows behind sculptures by combining different shades of white, adding depth and visual interest. Their LED technology ensured lightweight, heat-free, and low-maintenance operation, ideal for the long duration of the Expo.

PROLIGHTS EclDisplay DATWhite, installed along tracks in corridors, foyers, and transition areas, provided easier and more precise focusing compared to traditional track lights, delivering theatrical-quality illumination.

The PROLIGHTS Astra Wash19Pix, IP-rated fixtures, were selected for the main stage's front wash. Ziggy appreciated their compact and lightweight design, crucial given the limited rigging capacity. These units offered the right brightness to effectively complement the LED screens, ensuring flexibility in zooming and positioning, essential for the diverse and unpredictable nature of performances.

In the eucalyptus forest, a specific IP-rated fixture was needed to project gobos along the path and create natural-looking beams of sunlight filtering through the trees without requiring movement. Ziggy and Toby selected the PROLIGHTS Mosaico for its brightness, warm white colour wheel, framing shutters, and zoom capabilities, effectively producing layered, softly out-of-focus gobo effects that realistically mimicked sunlight filtering through leaves.

All lighting fixtures were purchased from Australia by ES Global on behalf of the Australian Government, shipped to Osaka, and supplied by Show Technology, PROLIGHTS' partner in Australia.

Once again, PROLIGHTS fixtures demonstrated their reliability, versatility, and technical excellence, playing a fundamental role in the success of a prestigious international project like the Australia Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025.

For more information, please contact: marketing@prolights.it