The Client

Zoë Carmichael ASEA (Associate of the Society of Equestrian Artists) is an award-winning sculptor, specialising in bronze sculptures of horses and other animal forms.

In 2023, Carmichael – who formally trained in the Renaissance Art capital, Florence – became the first ever Sculptor-in-Residence to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, and won Best Sculpture at the ‘Horses in Art Exhibition 2023′.

The Event

In April of the same year, Zoë also planned an exhibition of new work at The Crypt on the Green, Clerkenwell, London. The 250 square metre event space – underneath the adjoining St James Church, originally built in 1540 – features a stunning high-vaulted, exposed brickwork ceiling and parquet flooring.

Production Services

Sound Division was called upon to illuminate the exhibition space, which would complement and refine the existing interior lighting, provide
exhibition quality spot-lighting of the sculptures, and light up external areas of the building.

Illuminating the interior exhibiting space

Chauvet compact wireless uplighters – set to a warm white – were positioned to subtly pick out distinct features and surface textures in the room itself including, pillars, arches, large recessed alcoves, graphic displays and temporary apple tree décor.

Spotlighting individual sculptures

To illuminate the sculpture bronzes of different surface hues and patinas, which were mounted on white plinths, Sound Division specified Astera PB15 “Bricks” – compact wireless, RGB+W high-quality, exhibition-grade spotlights.

Astera Bricks provide a range of controllable features including:

• Multiple white colour options
• Highly flat, even and focusable light beam/source
• No heat generation
• Long run time
• Easy set up and control from an app.

Use of wireless controlled lighting also gives a huge time-saving advantage in production set-up and break-down times.

Each sculpture was fully illuminated in the round by four Astera light fixtures assigned to each plinth. The lighting was strategically positioned on a sleek black, custom-designed goal-post system spanning the entire floor space.

Illuminating the exterior and entrance

The Sound Division team also set the scene for welcoming guests by placing further uplighters to dramatically illuminate the tree-lined pathway leading up to, and including, the stepped Crypt entrance.

The Result

The one-night only event proved to be successful with Zoë proudly announcing sales of all work on display in a subsequent newsletter.

“Sound Division did an excellent job throughout”, said Zoë Carmichael. “They understood straight away what I wanted for lighting each and every individual piece. And the atmosphere the team created, both inside and outside, set exactly the right tone I was looking for to show my work in the way it needs”.