A Medialon Show Control System for the Night-Time "Big O" Show at Expo 2012 in Yeosu, South Korea

	"Big O" show - Yeosu Expo 2012 Photo credit: Julien Panie

The marine-themed Expo 2012 opened in May 2012 for a three-month run in Yeosu, South Korea. The icon of the Expo is "Big-O," a landmark constructed to give visitors an insight into the expo's theme, including experience zones hosting large-scale events and cultural performances.

ECA2 -- a French-based company specialized in creating and producing major events and shows around the world -- was in charge of designing the entire "Big-O" show as well as the O structure. The artistic and technical production of the show was also part of ECA2 mission.

During daytime the "Big-O" is a giant sculpture that will remain after the Expo as a symbolic landmark. By night, it is the centerpiece of a unique show that embraces the Expo's themes.

The O itself features a water screen inside the outer rim, which shows films and other videos. The outer rim also produces special effects, such as laser shows.

ECA2's team designed the O as a mysterious object that could have emerged from the ocean itself. It glints in the sunlight like a jewel over the lagoon. Modern materials such as concrete and steel are harmoniously combined to lend the structure an almost organic appearance.

For the "Big-O" night-time show, the Medialon show control system synchronizes hundreds of devices and special effects, creating an immersive show that plunges the audience into the heart of a sensory narrative.

One Medialon Manager V6 PRO show control software allows controlling and synchronizing the following:

Water:
- 24x moving water cannons (360-degrees)
- "Cascade Screen," a 45m high water curtain which is the biggest and tallest one ever built in the world
- hundreds of water jets

Special effects:
- 24x flame generators
- hundreds of mist nozzles
- 5x lasers

Lighting and video:
- 58x moving heads (1,500W) in weatherproof casing
- 6x video projectors (35,000 lumens)

The "Big-O" show is the main attractions at Expo 2012 where millions of people from around the world will to visit.

Credits include: Design / creation - production director and producer: Jean-Christophe Canizares, ECA2; head of operations and technical director: Guillaume Duflot, ECA2; screenplay, artistic director and show director: Moira Smith, ECA2; Big-O architecture: Mark Fisher; Control - LCSS, ECA2.