Glowing in the Dark: Expo 86 at Night
(photograph
courtesy of Phil Karasick -- Animation by Bobbea Studios)
The
aura of Expo 86 changed dramatically as daylight faded into twilight
and
lights of every description began to bathe the fair in a wash of
colour.
Lighting experts from Hollywood and around the world were called in for
the project and every special effect imaginable was utilized to some
degree.
Be it smoke and mirrors or computerized strobe lights, a lot of thought
was put into creating a mood of awe and wonder during the evening hours
at Expo 86.
The
combined fireworks & laser show were the evening display's main
attraction
but there were many other innovative lighting projects around the
fair.
Pavilions that appeared architecturally bland during the day became
alive
with film projections and dancing lights. Neon glowed along the
monorail
track and under lighting projected onto the tallest structures made
them
appear all the more monolithic.
There
were also examples of subtle and elegant uses of light. By
projecting
streams of pastel colours onto the specially coated surface of their
pavilion,
the Northwest Territories recreated the Aurora Borealis as it looks
when
is refracted by glaciers.
Click
on the pictures below to enlarge:
 Switzerland Pavilion |
Northwest
Territories |
 Great Hall of Ramses II |
Plaza |
 Quebec Pavilion |
Yukon |
China Gate |
 General Motors Pavilion |
 Saskatchewan Pavilion |
 British Columbia Pavilion |
 Space Tower |
Monorail |
 CN Pavilion |
 Australia Pavilion |
 CN Pavilion |
Expo Centre |
 Main Gate |
Mexico Pavilion |