Leonardo Horse Project – Milan (2019)

Leonardo Horse Project

Ippodromo SNAI San Siro – Milan | 2019
Heritage / Art Installation
Role: Lighting Designer – Concept, Control & Site Commissioning

Project Overview

Lighting design for the equestrian statue inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, developed as part of a wider lighting intervention for the façade of the San Siro racecourse.

The project aimed to celebrate Leonardo’s creative legacy through light, combining architectural façade lighting with a highly evocative artistic installation.

Concept

The lighting concept for the statue was inspired by Leonardo’s creative process itself.
I imagined the sculptor working late at night, drawing and modeling by the dim, unstable glow of a candle.
The goal was not to create a static illumination, but to reproduce the subtle movement, texture and depth of candlelight, enhancing the sculpture through shifting shadows and gentle variations in intensity.

Light here becomes a narrative tool — not a spotlight, but a presence that reveals form, material and emotion.

Technical Strategy

  • Architectural façade lighting controlled via DALI for monitoring, maintenance and intensity management
  • Dynamic lighting scenes managed through DMX, allowing programmable variations and special scenarios
  • Custom positioning of projectors to achieve a balanced interplay of light and shadow on the sculpture
  • Careful calibration of beam angles, intensity and movement to maintain visual comfort and avoid visual noise

Role & Responsibilities

  • Lighting concept development
  • Technical lighting design and fixture selection
  • Programming of DALI and DMX control systems
  • On-site supervision, night-time installation and commissioning
  • Final testing and fine-tuning of dynamic lighting effects

The project was completed after two weeks of night work and represented a major professional responsibility, entrusted to me by the company. The result successfully combined technical precision with poetic intent, enhancing both the architectural context and the symbolic value of the artwork.