I recently took a fascinating trip to Macau. A location that is a stark contrast to Amsterdam. From the people to the culture and food, it was a completely different and an unforgettable experience.
A part of China, that retains its own unique character, Macau is a mesmerising anomaly. A fusion of cultures that are poles apart, with the biggest influences coming from Portugal and China – two dramatically different cultures.
From the food, to the language and culture, the mind struggles to place exactly where you are in the world as you stand in the streets of Macau surrounded by: crisp Portuguese custard tarts for sale alongside steaming dim sum, conversations in Cantonese under road signs in Portuguese and the razzle-dazzle of Dubai or Las Vegas on all sides. It is a dizzying onslaught to the senses. A melting pot of sights, sounds and flavours. So different to everything that Amsterdam is. And yet despite being on such distinctly foreign turf, I feel my passion for lighting ignite. This is a fascinating opportunity to see lighting used in a completely different way. A study of how a culture so unique, translates lighting in their environment. And so I begin to explore.
Lighting here is different. This is the Las Vegas of the Far East. Dubai with a twist. Gambling, super-sized living, dizzying heights – it's all here. Macau is the party that never stops, and lighting is its disco ball, turning night into day for 24-hour living fed by a sea of illumination. In a city that never sleeps, casinos are immortal — caverns of opportunity where real time has no meaning. Here, in Macau’s casinos, there is no night or day – a surreal experience once you finally realise just how long you have spent inside one. China has changed a great deal in the last decade. Rising incomes, booming cities and unlimited access to power have birthed something new. Although, it should be noted that in rural areas of course, its a whole new ball game.
However, this is Asia. Lighting preferences here are generally the opposite to what we are used to. The trend is for bold, dramatic lighting that shouts its presence. Colourful, bright lighting that can’t be ignored. Perhaps a reaction to the decades of lack, when lighting was a luxury and extravagances or frivolities such as these were not even on the radar. A contrast indeed to European tastes, where we prefer lighting that is less pronounced, styles and colours that are more discrete and reserved. However, climate plays an important role here too. In warmer climates, people tend to prefer cooler lighting. In cooler climates, people tend to want warmer lighting. It’s an interesting observation.
Many years ago, I came across two photos of the same high-end retail store in two different locations. I haven’t been able to find them again to show you here. One store was in the Tropics, in Brazil and the other store was located in wintery Russia. The Sao Paulo store was lit by warm exterior lighting and cool white interior lighting.
The Moscow store on the other hand, was lit by cool white exterior lighting and warm lighting for the interior. The contrast was striking but very effective. A reminder that the temperature of light directly relates to its psychological effects on us.
My trip to Macau reminded me of this again. A strikingly different location, with dramatically different lighting. It wouldn’t work here in Amsterdam, yet in Macau, somehow it is a perfect fit.
#mystory Eduard Brink
Image by Andy Leung from Pixabay
