Astera provides quick and slick solution for Fernando Botero Art Exhibition

Singapore-based lighting designer Fengmao specified 12 Astera QuikSpots as a quality and highly practical wireless lighting solution for illuminating six stunning bronze sculptures by the legendary late Colombian artist and sculptor, Fernando Botero.

These were installed across various locations within the Silver Leaf Garden at popular horticultural attraction, Gardens by the Bay.

Fengmao has worked extensively in lighting photography and film environments as well as experimental theatre and spatial/interactive installations. Once again, he thought out-of-the-box for this project after being approached by lighting rental contractor and technical production company True Colour Media (TCM) and asked to develop a lighting concept designed to enhance the sculptures and extend the audience experience beyond daylight hours, allowing the works to be appreciated long after sunset.

The decision to use the Astera QuikSpot – a highly flexible and innovative battery-powered LED luminaire with the highest quality output, coupled with ease of use, consistent performance and rapid setup in a compact format – was an ideal fit for all technical requirements, explained Fengmao.

The QuikSpots were sold to TCM by Astera’s Singapore distributor, Total Solution Marketing.

On site at Gardens by the Bay, two QuikSpots fixtures were deployed to light the fronts of each of the six iconic sculptures – Adam and Eve, Cat, Horse, Seated Woman, The Dancers, and Woman on Horse.

The lights were set to a warm white colour, which resonated harmoniously with their form, copper finish, and textures.

The QuikSpots were perfect for working in Singapore’s harsh tropical climate with constant high humidity, and being located outdoors, it was also mission-critical that they were IP65 rated to withstand the frequent thunderstorms.

Security was also a consideration. Even in the extremely low crime environment of Singapore – the lights sitting on the ground were potentially tempting for pranking or mischief seekers – but with Astera’s smart Anti-Theft Alarm feature enabled, this was minimised!

When activated, the alarm triggers a visual and audible alert if the fixture is moved or tampered with, and the alarm status is highlighted in the AsteraApp, so technical crews can monitor if any lights have been disturbed!

Furthermore, Fengmao and the team wanted a fixture with the flexibility of being able to switch between programmed sequences, colours, etc., for the four-month duration of the exhibition.

And to top it off, it would have been extremely difficult to install a traditional control system at the location without extensive works.

The aesthetic appearance and ergonomics of the fixtures themselves was yet another detail that was considered, and how well they blended into the environment, plus, being able to work with the AsteraApp for control – through a secured radio PIN – gives peace of mind in a signal-dense environment like Singapore.

Quality of light was, naturally, another “top priority” for Fengmao on this project and an area in which all Astera products excel.

“The QuikSpot’s single point light emission ensures a homogeneous output and shadowing compared to traditional LED PAR lights,” he noted, adding that this was important for working with the distinctive contours of the Fernando Botero pieces, as the lighting needed to preserve the inherent simplicity of their form.

Controlling stray light was another challenge, both for enhancing the meticulously curated space in the Silver Garden, and ensuring that they don’t encounter glare, keeping the focus firmly on the artworks. “We used the Astera AX5 snoot to maintain a clear profile and reduce glare,” Fengmao explained, and the QuikSpot’s zoom was “extremely helpful” in offering greater freedom for angling and positioning the fixtures.

The exhibition opened as part of the 2026 Singapore Art Week in January and then ran until May and was a huge success.

Photo credit: Lee Jun Yan.