Light-art installation
Light-art installations built around the light source, not the object.
- Shanghai Xionglan Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (brand: Xionglan Art)
- Shanghai-based workshop · delivery in 67 Chinese cities
- 10 capability groups / 102 individual techniques · design, fabrication and installation in-house
- Phone +86 156 0163 6249 · Mon–Sun 09:00–18:00 (CST)
In light-art the structure exists to hold and hide the light. We design the frame, the cabling and the control system together, so the visible result is only the effect and nothing of how it works.
Commissioned work in light-art installation normally runs from 6 to 30 m², with 3–8 working days in production from approved drawings. The reference range for this technique is CNY 2–15 per m², quoted itemised. It sits within our Visual Merchandising & Installations capability, alongside 9 related techniques, and the 4-point deliverable below is what a commission includes as standard.
When light-art installation is the right answer - and when it is not
Light installations are chosen when light itself should be the material - where the effect is not an object that is lit but colour, pattern and movement in space. They suit festivals, facades, plazas, hotel and retail interiors and night-time destinations. They are dependent on darkness to work at all, so the value of the installation is proportional to how dark the surroundings actually are.
How the work is actually carried out
The design is developed in the dark, tested on site or in a controlled room, because light installations behave nothing like their drawings. Fixtures are selected for their output and their beam, and the control system is designed so scenes can be changed without re-rigging. Cabling is concealed and routed so it can be serviced, and the structure is detailed to disappear, since the whole point is the light. Power, load and, for exterior work, IP rating are resolved before anything is specified.
Typical applications
Typical specifications
| Control | DMX, Art-Net or standalone playback |
|---|---|
| Light sources | LED strip, pixel, projector, fibre optic |
| Lead time | 4-8 weeks including programming |
| Compliance | Electrical certification and CE/UKCA components where required |
| Capability | Visual Merchandising & Installations |
| Reference range | CNY 2–15 per m² |
| Techniques in this capability | 10 |
| Coverage | Shanghai base, nationwide delivery, overseas projects on request |
Reference price bands for Light-art installation
Indicative only, based on the scope normally quoted for light-art installation. A firm price follows a site survey and an itemised quotation split into material, labour, finishing, packing and freight.
| Pricing basis | Priced per piece or per project rather than per square metre |
|---|---|
| Reference range | CNY 2–15 per m² |
| How we quote | Itemised: material, labour, finishing, packing and freight shown as separate lines |
Build tiers for light-art installation
Light-art installation is not one product at one size: the table below is the same scope ladder we quote on, so you can see where your project sits before asking for a price.
| Build tier | Typical area | Production days | What changes at this tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | Up to 30 m², one substrate and one access setup, 3–8 days in the workshop. |
| Tier 2 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 3 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 4 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 5 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 6 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6 m² and above, multiple substrate types and phased access, 3–8 days with a join and numbering plan. |
What we deliver
- Concept and merchandise layout matched to the site's footfall routes
- Rigging design, load checks and coordination with mall management
- Fabrication, trial assembly in the workshop, then night-time install
- Storage, re-use planning and dismantling after the season
Faults we see most often in light-art installation
Each of these is a field failure rather than a workshop one, and each is cheaper to prevent at enquiry stage than to correct after installation.
- Presenting the design in daylight renders where the light sources read as objects rather than as the visual.
- Under-specifying the control system, so the installation cannot be reprogrammed for different times or events.
- Leaving cable routing and access unresolved, so a repair means dismantling the visible work.
What to settle before an overseas project starts
| Darkness and ambient light | Tell us what else lights the space at night, because ambient light is what determines whether the piece will read at all. |
|---|---|
| Control requirements | Tell us whether scenes need to change - for events, for seasons, for a schedule. It changes the system specification substantially. |
| Power and exposure | Confirm the available power and, for exterior work, the IP rating and cleaning regime required. |
Working with us from overseas
Enquiry to installation, one point of contact. Export packing, shipping, commercial terms and quality control →
Design intent and what drives the cost
| Technique | Light-art installation |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Light-art installations built around the light source, not the object. |
| Floor area normally quoted | 6–30 m² per commission |
| Typical production window | 3–8 working days from approved drawings |
| Main cost drivers | Area and repetition; substrate preparation; detail and modelling time; surface finish; access and working hours |
| What we quote separately | Material, labour, finishing, packing, freight and site measures - each as its own line |
Representative work
Visual Merchandising & Installations projects photographed on completion.
Visual Merchandising & Installations — Atrium hanging installation
Visual Merchandising & Installations — Interactive sensor installation
Visual Merchandising & Installations — IP collaboration VM
Visual Merchandising & Installations — Chinese New Year VMCommon questions
Can the effect be reprogrammed after installation?
What happens if a light fails?
Can installation work be done overnight so trading is not interrupted?
Discuss light-art installation
Send photographs, drawings or a 3D file with approximate dimensions. You will get a technique recommendation, a reference price band and a production schedule.