Equipson's LightShark range took centre stage at EXPO 2020 in Dubai.
It was used in both the Spanish and Angolan Pavilions for DMX control of different exhibition and stage spaces.
"The software's FX engine allowed us to integrate the lighting with the rest of the audiovisual systems in an agile and simple way," says Marvin Ryan, a technician from the Philippines and head of lighting at the Angola Pavilion. His views were reinforced by Juan Gonzalez, technical manager for events at the Spanish Pavilion, who highlighted the simplicity of LightShark's user interface. "With hardly any previous experience in handling the system, it was very easy to start operating it almost from day one," he says.
Designed to showcase the best of art, architecture, innovation and technology, Expo 2020 Dubai runs until the end of March and features more than 200 pavilions from all over the globe. The event was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It eventually got underway in October 2021, making it the largest exhibition to be held since the pandemic and the first occasion that a World Expo has been held in an Arab country.
As a Spanish brand, LightShark actively collaborated with the Cultural Activities Department of the Spanish Pavilion to showcase its range of products at EXPO 2022 under the slogan Designing the Future
LightShark's range of multiprotocol products have already revolutionised the entertainment industry by delivering powerful tools that are not limited by their features. With LightShark, lighting engineers working in all types of venues – from small theatres to large stadia – can control up to eight DMX universes and 4000+ DMX channels, all completely integrated via smartphones and tablets. In addition, the range is fully compatible with other manufacturer's equipment because the products work with industry-standard DMX and Artnet lighting protocols, as well as any Operating System (Android Linux, Windows and macOS).
Iber de Vicente, head of Cultural Activities Production of the Spanish Pavilion, said that collaborating with LightShark and putting its products centre stage showed that Spain is at the forefront of technology for live events.
During Expo 2020 Dubai, the Spanish Pavilion has showcased an extensive cultural program on different stages and has used LightShark technology throughout to control lighting and effects. Among the many artists who have performed on these stages are guitarists José María Gallardo del Rey and Miguel Trápaga, flamenco dancer Manuel Liñán, flamenco singer Miguel Poveda and performance artist singer Rodrigo Cuevas. There have also been classical music concerts from Lina Tur, Antonio Serrano, Accademia del Piacere and Forma Antiqva, as well as stunning performances from the National Ballet of Spain and the dance companies of Olga Pericet, Jesús Carmona, María Pagés and Ballet of Andalusia.
The diversity of these performances has made it possible to show professionals and technicians from all over the world the features of the LightShark software and its various control surfaces. Positive comments have abounded, as highlighted by Muhammad Tariq, a lighting designer and operator from Pakistan, who says: "Very intuitive and easy to use, it is an ideal solution for freelance technicians working for different companies."
EXPO 2020 Dubai continues the more than 170-year tradition of Universal Expositions to showcase major innovations that have shaped the world we live in today. Universal Expositions have also left an architectural legacy with some of the most iconic buildings in the world, such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Space Needle in Seattle, owing their very existence to this international exhibition. In the case of Dubai, the emblematic building is the Al Wasl Plaza, the largest unsupported dome in the world. This houses spectacular audiovisual displays that include more than 250 high-definition video projectors, more than 3,000 moving light heads and an immersive 360º sound system.
