The document discusses the differences between lighting for art, circus performances, and retail settings. For art lighting, the goal is to allow the artwork to be viewed as the artist intended without adding artistic elements from the lighting. In circus lighting, the lighting plays a more active role in enhancing each performance and using colors and effects that relate to the themes of different acts. Retail lighting similarly shows off products but also increasingly uses colors and effects to influence mood and create an artistic atmosphere that promotes sales.

1. The Differences between Lighting Art, Circus and Retail
ART
When lighting art (Paintings) the most important aspect to consider is allowing the painting to
be in view to an audience. As the artist has created the painting with a specific design and
with certain colours in mind, it is very important not to convey meaning through the lights. i.e.
semiotics. The painting must be viewed only as the artist intended. Therefore when lighting
art, it is vital that no designing decisions be made. No artistic decisions should be made as
colour and specials takes away from the art that is hung, all that is required is to create the
most naturalistic lighting possible for the paintings to be viewed in.
In lighting art, the position of the lamp, and the bulb used is key. Xenon, Halogen and
Incandescent bulbs are most commonly used in galleries and museums as they allow you to
most accurately see the colours in the paintings.
LED Bulbs are also used as they give out the best light, and the beam is not damaging to the
painting, however LED lights are very expensive.
Above are three images of the same painting lit by a different bulb. It is
clear to see that the bulb is very important as each version of the same
painting conveys a different meaning and message. The painter would
have had a specific idea/meaning and message he wished to convey
and so it is important to capture this.
It is also a popular myth that light’s hung in a museum and gallery are
focused on the painting when in actual fact, the lights aim around the
painting as directly focusing a beam on a painting can eventually
damage a painting over time.
THE CIRCUS
Circus is very similar to the theatre in many aspects; however there is
never just one specific theme or style. A circus is made up of a variety of acts and each act
will have its own theme and style and when these are lit, different things should be
considered.
Unlike lighting Art, performers must be lit, and the way they are lit should be relevant to the
theme of their act. Specials and colours are crucial when creating meaning and lighting
performers.

2. As most circuses are set in the round, when creating a general wash a series of profiles will
be used to light the space generally. However with each act, different lights and styles will be
used. For example:
An Acrobatic performance will use a wide variety of
lights and techniques to not only light the large
amount of action within the circle, but to also match
the excitement of the act. Additional spotlights will
be used to pick out certain performers, but similar to
a dance performance, side lighting will be used.
Using Parcans and perhaps gels (this will depend
on other creative choices such as
music/concept/costume) on booms to light the
performers (heads/mids /legs). Parcans are more
likely to be used during an acrobatic performance as the create the brightest beam of light,
and with so many performers performing they will all need to be lit, and also colour is often
used in these performers and gels work best in Parcans as they give a brighter wash of
colour.
Many colours used in an acrobatic performers will be reds, pinks, yellows as they are often
synonymous with the circus, but the brightness focuses the audience attention on the
performance space.
However, in a Magician’s performance, as there is very few
people on stage, sometimes just the one, fewer lights are
used. In many cases the performer may just be lit by one or
two spot lights, and the rest of the stage in darkness. Colour
in these performances is used more for their connotations
rather than their brightness. For example, blue to connote
mystery and the unknown, whereas red will connote danger
in a high risk magic trick.
Lighting a circus is very different to lighting art in many
different ways. When lighting Art, it must be very naturalistic, and the light is only for the sole
purpose of allowing the audience to see the painting or sculpture as the painter intended.
However, when lighting a circus, the lighting is as integral to the performance as the acts. As
a circus is advertised as a spectacle, many different lights are used with many different
specials and gels to increase and elevate the spectacle of the performance. Giving a ‘wow’
factor.
However, in an art exhibition, it is only the art that the audience has come to see, so
specials are unnecessary. Also, some specials may damage the art and take away from
‘spectacle’ and feel of the painting.
RETAIL
Lighting retail is very similar to lighting art in that its purpose is to allow the products on sale
to be seen by an audience/shopper. However, more recently shops are using specials and

3. colours to further this effect and also create an ‘artistic; feel and allowing the lighting of the
shop to be as important as the products on sale.
Similar to lighting Art, lights will be used to view the product. For example, pin spots or
Parcans aimed at clothes to allow them to be seen, however, similar to The Circus, colour
will be used to generate meaning. For example a women’s lingerie store, the light’s will have
a pink gel in them to connote femininity, or be aimed at a mirror or a glass chandelier as this
will create a bright white effect, connoting innocence and purity. Women shopping in this
store may be inclined to purchase more if they feel that these products will make them
feel/look innocent or feminine. Also specials are used to not only create this effect, but to
add to the decor of the store. For example in the store ‘Boux Avenue’ which sells women’s
clothes. All of the lamp shades were made up of a white, almost clear necklace material.
This created a white shiny effect, again connoting innocence and purity, but this also stood
out as a centrepiece of the store, acting as a piece of art as well as a lighting device.
.