Commissioned by the Sultan of Oman, the Arches of Oman is a magnificent water sculpture designed by Giles Rayner. The sculpture stands proudly by The Royal Opera House in Muscat, Oman, and is formed of two entwined stainless-steel tusks that flow around one another, designed to emulate the arches of the Opera House itself.
Lighting designer Victoria Jerram was chosen to create a striking new lighting scheme for the spectacular sculpture, and she used our award winning Pharos LPC to control and program the fixtures.
The Arches of Oman has 69 water jets, a subterranean plant room and 2km of hydraulic hoses. It was designed, engineered, and manufactured in the UK, and stands 12 metres high, weighing 15 tonnes.
Rayner says of the piece, “Water is the energy that brings the sculpture to life… The jets of sparkling water which join, like a herringbone, in a crescendo cascade at the centre, may be interpreted as the melding of the stringed instruments into one glorious melody. The water effects are symbolic of these musical instruments and further highlight the homage which the sculpture owes to the Royal Opera House Muscat and Omani Architecture in general.”
Jerram’s lighting design honours the spirit of this design, with playful, vibrant uplighting that boldly highlights in the interior of the sculpture itself, as well as the water flowing from it. A Pharos LPC controls the lighting in perfect harmony with the programmed water sequences that fire from each of the jets.
Lighting Designer: Victoria Jerram
Artist: Giles Rayner
Photography: Sean Conboy
