The Wizard Of Light

FROM SINGAPORE’S NATIONAL DAY PARADE TO THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAMES, ADRIAN GOH HAS STAGED SOME OF SINGAPORE’S MOST SPECTACULAR PROJECTION-BASED PERFORMANCES.

- Adeline Loh

The stadium is dark, save for the ring of neon-lit dancers. Slowly, to the beat of the music, a cluster of towers rises from the centre. As they reach the apex of their ascent, fully illuminated by multi-coloured lights, the crowd roars. They recognise the shapes – these are no mere structures, as the telltale shells of the Flower and Cloud Forest domes, and Esplanade come into view. This is Singapore and it’s floating several storeys above the ground. The music swells with the uplifting lyrics: “Rise to the rainbow, rise.” Moments such as these are seared into memories. Children gasp. Those old enough to know compare the scene to the futuristic world of The Jetsons. Others in the audience are dazzled, seeing the scene as representing Singaporeans’ dream of their future city. Awe and pride culminate in one performance at the nation’s 51st National Day Parade.

The man who brought the Sky City to life has also conjured ocean waves from stadium grounds, serpent’s flames to do battle with puny humans, and mind-boggling phantasmagoria to transport today’s CGI-savvy audiences to surreal realms. His shows, specifically the Opening Ceremony of the 28th Southeast Asian Games, have broken international records. He’s the reason international audiences watching the Singapore Grand Prix on television can admire the beauty of our city’s signature buildings. The secret is in the lighting. And Adrian Goh, chief of Singapore-based projection and multimedia company Hexogon Solution, is the digital wizard who has injected magic into some of the nation’s most spectacular events. His wand? Advanced projection mapping – a technology that can turn almost any surface into a dynamic animated display.