Absinthe
Production Design for Vivian Lu Design Studio Limited
With Absinthe, Vivian had a chance to explore potential visuals that merge physics and scenography. This play explores topics on physics, matter and psychology. The the main beauty of the design is the limitless interpretation of the set according to the audience's understanding of the play, the oval stage represents time, but can be seen as the milky way, Möbius band etc. To enhance the whole theatrical experience, she introduced technology of laser light sound visualizer as a method to allow sound to be seen, laser lights were distorted based on the frequency of spoken sound by the actors.
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Absinthe by Vivian Lu
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Production Design by Vivian Lu
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Vivian Lu Absinthe
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Vivian Lu Production Design
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Vivian Lu Interview
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Absinthe Production Design Press Releases
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Absinthe Production Design Media Articles
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Unique Properties
Vivian introduced the technology of laser light sound visualiser to magnify senses in the whole theatrical experiences, and allowed sound to be seen. She custom-made different laser light gadgets and experiments with different materials to find the best one to be used on stage. Every angle of the middle circular stage was carefully designed and the inclusion of technology brought a whole new blend of artistic richness in theatre. The beauty of the design is the limitless interpretation of the set according to their understanding of the play. The oval stage represents time, but can be seen as the milky way, Möbius band etc.
Tags
Scenography, Stage Design, merging physics and set design
Production Technology
The project required a lot of research and experimentation, especially experimenting with the laser light sound visualizer, making sure the visuals created from different sound frequencies went hand in hand with the general set design. A lot of prior research also had to be done on the subject matter or physics, black holes and relativity, to create a stage that portrayed elements of these subjects, to allow audiences to quickly connect and be immersed into the show as it was a play that discussed quite complex subjects. For the staging and material we chose dark reflective panels to create the effect of this vast yet mysterious universe, also covering it with splattered paint to symbolise the milky galaxy. This and stage received great feedback, and special mentions on review platforms highlighted and praised the stage design and effects, and how it truly immersed people into the story.
Design Challenge
On the initial design part, there are a lot of discussions on how to tactic a complex play, where many deep subjects were discussed and visually portray it all in a manner that guided the audience into the topics and be immersed into the world. Technically during production the curvature of the oval shape had to be very exact, as we wanted to visually make it look really smooth when we detach it to different shapes. The kinds of wheels were also a very big technical challenge as the different points of attaching the wheels made a huge difference on the stage's mobility.
Project Duration
The show was first showcased in Beijing in 2019 then toured around in Shenzhen and Shanghai in 2020.
Operation Flow
Through the sound vibrations spoken from the actors, laser lights were distorted based on the frequency of spoken sound. The visuals that came out from the actors and actress voice varies drastically due to the pitch of their specific voice.. The actors rehearsed for months with the devices to create a specific imagery to go with the set design.
Research
Every angle of the main stage was experimented with consideration of the feasibility on how actor’s move on set. We experimented with different inclination of the set and prior to the performance, we trained actors to walk, run and jump at different angles we have on the circular stage to avoid stage accidents. The whole stage was built with extensive technological difficulties and precision because we had to find the balance of designing it to achieve desired artistic visual but also take intensive examination that structurally it is strong enough withstand immense weight.
Inspiration
Absinthe was a project that has given Vivian a chance to explore potential visuals merging physics and scenography. It was a play that explored topics on physics, matter and psychology. She wanted to experiment with different ways to unearth a new power to enhance audiences sense in the whole theatrical experiences. Vivian wanted to find new ways to capture audience’s imagination and to see how to create different relationship with time.
Project Overview
Absinthe Production Design has been a Silver winner in the Performing Arts, Stage, Style and Scenery Design award category in the year 2019 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Image Credits
For design images and photos please credit Vivian Lu.
Silver Recognition
Vivian Lu was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2020, a testament to excellence of their work Absinthe Production Design.
Vivian Lu Press Releases
Numerous press releases on Vivian Lu and their achievements are at your disposal, inviting press members to use them freely in their coverage. Available now: 1 press releases ready for immediate access by journalists.
Absinthe: Pushing Boundaries in Theatrical Experiences
Vivian Lu's Absinthe production design merges physics and scenography to create an immersive theatrical experience that challenges traditional boundaries.
Vivian Lu Newsroom
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