Arcadia, the famend efficiency artwork collective, has an extended historical past of reworking industrial and army scrap into awe-inspiring phases for Glastonbury Festival. 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 progressive mix of expertise, artwork, and historic significance, pushing the boundaries of competition experiences and making a strong assertion on reworking 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 how 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 wonderful Arcadia crew pulled it off.
Discovering the Scrap
Firstly, Arcadia’s artistic course of typically begins with discovering fascinating items of disused equipment. They acquired a tip a few decommissioned army helicopter on the market at an air base in Cornwall. Secondly, the helicopter reportedly crashed on its last flight, providing a strong place to begin for his or her imaginative and prescient. As soon as they acquired the helicopter, the thought of reworking it right into a dragonfly started to take form. Then, the crew 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 commercial scrap and natural varieties is a signature of Arcadia’s work.
Engineering and Building
The primary physique of the stage is the tailored ex-military helicopter. To carry the dragonfly to life, they integrated:
- Digger arms for legs: Giving the large 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 complete 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 methods to make sure sound throughout the sector.
- Flame Results: Jets of fireside 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 below The Dragonfly this yr?
Supply: DJ Magazine, CPL Tech, Glastonbury Competition
