"It is my personal belief that every detail is important. It is the key when you want to create something new and personal. With every project I encourage myself to take a step further and it is never about the quantity of equipment. It is all about finding an artistic way that makes different details work together as a whole,” says Arvydas Buinauskas, one of Lithuania's leading lighting designers for concerts, festivals, operas, and theatre, as well as architecture or nature sites. Live Design chats with Buinauskas, principal designer at ABLight.
Arvydas Buinauskas: Honestly it was a very long road with wrong turns and everything. It took me 15 years to be here where I am today. I was only 18 when I started working in this industry and now looking back on everything that happened I can say with confidence that it was not difficult. And it is because this work is who I am and it is my purpose in life. So all the challenges and mistakes are a part of my life and I deal with them peacefully. Nothing that is worth pursuing is easy. If you truly want something be ready to find yourself in difficult situations. This is how we grow.
LD: How would you describe the lighting field in Lithuania?
AB: When I started making custom scenography designs for different events in Lithuania the industry was completely different. Over the years the work that all scenographers do here is more and more recognized and appreciated. Now the majority of artists in Lithuania want something exceptional for their own shows. This progress is something that I am really proud of. It allows me to aim even higher every single time. It is wonderful to be a part of something so special as change.
LD: What was the most challenging or difficult project you ever designed and why?
AB: Without a doubt it would be the premier of the opera Lis Mikita, which took place in Lviv Theater of Opera and Ballet. Everything about this project was new to me. I was used to work with concerts and different television projects. But opera was a new genre for me. This project pushed me to step out of my own box and see even more possibilities what can I do with lighting and design.
LD: What was the most rewarding project and why?
AB: It may sound cheesy but I see all of my projects in this way. My philosophy is that every event is unique in its own way. There is not going to be another event like this. This is most probably the main thing that allowed me to stand out in Lithuania. I truly worry and care about all of my projects. Over the years I set the bar really high for myself. I can not allow myself to slip. It is not an option. This is why when I take up a project I give all of my heart in to it.
LD: Do you favor LED or conventional fixtures? Do you design with a mix of both?
AB: I work with everything that is a source of light. This with the knowledge of how light works allows a scenographer and a lighting designer be interesting all the time. Sometimes I use very unconventional elements that make a project unique.
LD: How do you stay up-to-date on new technology?
AB: This is something that I do every day and all the time. I read a lot if articles online. I follow up on the newest technology with lighting equipment. Actually one of my main sources of information comes from Live Design magazine. And I am really thankful for that.
LD: What are you working on now, and what impact did the pandemic have on your company in the past year?
AB: Well, the beginning of the pandemic was a shock as it was for everyone. But I am really happy to share that it was just a temporary state. Soon inquiries about new projects started to flow my way. All of a sudden there was a need for creating visuals and concepts for city fairs, ballets, TV projects, etc.
LD: What advice would you give young designers hoping to join the industry today?
AB: Don’t try to copy what anyone else is doing. When I started creating my own custom designs quite often I heard that “this is too difficult” or “that is impossible.” But soon I realized that impossible only exists in a dictionary. In real life it is simply not true.