Singapore-based lighting designer Fengmao selected 12 Astera QuikSpot units as a high-quality, highly practical wireless lighting solution to illuminate six stunning bronze sculptures by the legendary Colombian artist and sculptor Fernando Botero.
The sculptures were installed at various locations throughout the Silver Leaf Garden within the renowned Gardens by the Bay horticultural attraction.
Fengmao has extensive experience in lighting for photography and film, as well as experimental theatre and spatial and interactive installations. Once again, he adopted an innovative approach for this project after being commissioned by lighting rental and technical production company True Colour Media (TCM) to develop a lighting concept that would enhance the sculptures and extend the visitor experience beyond daylight hours, allowing the artworks to be appreciated long after sunset.
The choice of the QuikSpot fixture—a highly flexible and innovative battery-powered LED luminaire that combines exceptional light quality with ease of use, reliable performance and rapid installation in a compact format—proved ideal for meeting all the project's technical requirements.
The QuikSpot units were supplied to TCM by Total Solution Marketing, Astera's distributor in Singapore. At Gardens by the Bay, two QuikSpot fixtures were used to illuminate the front of each of the six iconic sculptures: Adam and Eve, Cat, Horse, Seated Woman, The Dancers and Woman on Horse.
The luminaires were set to a warm white colour temperature that complemented the sculptures' forms, copper finish and textures perfectly.
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The QuikSpot fixtures proved ideal for operating in Singapore's demanding tropical climate, characterised by consistently high humidity throughout the year. In addition, as they were installed outdoors, it was essential that they featured an IP65 rating capable of withstanding the country's frequent tropical storms.
Security was also an important consideration. Even in a country with such a low crime rate as Singapore, luminaires placed at ground level could be vulnerable to vandalism or practical jokes. However, thanks to Astera's intelligent Anti-Theft Alarm feature, this risk was significantly reduced. When activated, any movement or tampering with a fixture triggers both a visual and audible alarm, while its status is displayed in the AsteraApp, allowing the technical team to immediately detect whether any unit has been moved or tampered with. In addition, Fengmao and his team required a luminaire that offered the flexibility to switch between different programmed sequences, colours and other settings throughout the exhibition's four-month run.
Furthermore, installing a conventional control system at the site would have been extremely difficult and would have required extensive infrastructure work.
The aesthetics and ergonomics of the luminaires themselves were also key considerations, as was their ability to blend seamlessly into the surroundings. Likewise, control via the AsteraApp, secured with a radio PIN, provided additional peace of mind in a signal-dense environment such as Singapore.
Naturally, light quality was another of Fengmao's highest priorities, an area in which all Astera products excel.
The QuikSpot's single-point light emission delivers a highly uniform output and superior shadow control compared to traditional LED PAR fixtures, said Fengmao.
He added that this characteristic was particularly important when illuminating the unmistakable volumes of Fernando Botero's sculptures, as the lighting needed to preserve the inherent simplicity of their forms.
Controlling stray light presented another challenge, both to enhance the carefully designed landscape of the Silver Leaf Garden and to prevent glare while keeping visitors' attention focused on the artworks. "We used the Astera AX5 snoot to maintain a clean beam profile and reduce glare", explained Fengmao. He also highlighted that the QuikSpot's zoom proved extremely useful, providing greater freedom when aiming and positioning the luminaires.
The exhibition opened in January as part of Singapore Art Week 2026 and remained on display until May, achieving tremendous success.
Photos: Lee Jun Yan
