[WATCH] DJ Magazine Explores Arcadia’s Latest Dragonfly Stage Made With An Previous Military Helicopter

Arcadia, the famend efficiency artwork collective, has a protracted historical past of remodeling industrial and navy scrap into awe-inspiring levels for Glastonbury Pageant. In 2024, they debuted their newest creation, The Dragonfly, a colossal mechanical dragonfly crafted from a repurposed Royal Navy Sea King helicopter. The Dragonfly stage, which changed Arcadia’s iconic Spider stage at Glastonbury, captivated audiences with its modern mix of know-how, artwork, and historic significance, pushing the boundaries of competition experiences and making a strong assertion on remodeling instruments of struggle into beacons of artwork and unity. DJ Magazine spoke with the founders, Bert Cole and Pip Rush, forward of the occasion final yr to learn the way they deliberate the stage. The video follows their good journey from thought to creation, all the way in which to Glastonbury. It showcases how the superb Arcadia crew pulled it off.

Discovering the Scrap

Firstly, Arcadia’s artistic course of typically begins with discovering fascinating items of disused equipment. They obtained a tip a couple of decommissioned navy helicopter on the market at an air base in Cornwall. Secondly, the helicopter reportedly crashed on its ultimate flight, providing a strong place to begin for his or her imaginative and prescient. As soon as they acquired the helicopter, the concept of remodeling it right into a dragonfly started to take form. Then, the staff meticulously studied the angles of pure dragonflies, their legs, how they sit, and the scale of their heads and eyes, permitting nature to steer the design course of. This mix of business scrap and natural varieties is a signature of Arcadia’s work.

Engineering and Development

The principle physique of the stage is the tailored ex-military helicopter. To convey the dragonfly to life, they integrated:

• Digger arms for legs: Giving the huge construction a dynamic, insect-like look.
• Lasers for wings: 22 high-powered lasers stretch far into the horizon, creating a surprising visible spectacle.
• Clear LED screens: The swiveling head, aka the DJ sales space, is roofed in hexagonal LED panels that change colours to imitate iridescent insect eyes.
• Projection Mapping: Brings the whole physique to life with vibrant visuals, textures, and animated sequences.
• Highly effective Sound System: A customized system collaborated with AF Reside, with microphones and monitoring techniques to make sure sound throughout the sphere.
• Flame Results: Jets of fireplace streaking within the sky for the signature Arcadia ambiance, however utilizing bio-ethanol to align with their sustainability targets.

After internet hosting the likes of Amelie Lens, Fatboy Slim, KI/KI, Barry Can’t Swim and extra in 2024, the Dragonfly returns to Worthy Farm this yr with a stacked line-up boasting the likes of Ladies Don’t Sync, Solomun, Michael Bibi and way more. So, who’s dancing underneath The Dragonfly this yr?

Supply: DJ Magazine, CPL Tech, Glastonbury Pageant