GOBO, FEATURE LIGHTING

Lighting the lost: a sculptural story on Federal Street

Completed2023
ClientAuckland Council
Sales PartnerMHL
ArtistJoe Sheehan
Lighting DesignerLeading Design Professionals (LDP)
Fabrication PartnerŌtāhuhu Engineering
Electrical ContractorAllendale Electrical
PhotographyIP Media

In 2023, Auckland Council unveiled a unique public art installation on Federal Street that seamlessly blends art, storytelling, and light. Created by Joe Sheehan, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading contemporary stone sculptors, the sculptural ensemble titled Lost & Found transforms an urban laneway into an immersive outdoor gallery – brought to life after dark with GOBO projection lighting technology from WE-EF.

The installation was commissioned by Auckland Council and delivered by a collaborative team including lighting designers from LDP, electrical contractors Allendale Electrical, and fabrication specialists Ōtāhuhu Engineering, with lighting expertise and products supplied by WE-EF Sales Partner MHL.

Design considerations

At the heart of Lost & Found are hand-chiselled basalt sculptures – jackets, shoes, and household relics – emerging from natural boulders to form a deeply human, tactile story along the street. It was essential that the lighting design accentuated the smoothed surfaces of the chiselled stone without overwhelming the surrounding public space.

To bring the vision to life, luminaires needed to be compact, highly controlled, and integrated within the sculptural concept itself. The solution: oversized “desk lamp” style enclosures housing GOBO projectors that direct light precisely onto each object.

Challenges

The custom-built lamp structures – oversized shrouds shaped like classic desk lamps – were integral to the storytelling intent of the installation, designed to symbolise care, warmth, and everyday human presence. However, enclosing the luminaires within these compact, sculptural housings introduced technical constraints.

Internally, space was extremely limited, making installation and on-site commissioning particularly challenging for contractors. Precise mounting and alignment of the projectors had to be achieved within tight tolerances. Additionally, there was concern that ambient city lighting might reduce visual impact – but careful optical sizing by LDP ensured strong contrast on the sculpted surfaces.

The integration of WE-EF’s FLC230 LED [GP] (GOBO) profile projector within these artistic lamp enclosures was critical in achieving the conceptual vision, while also overcoming the physical and optical hurdles presented by the site.

The lighting solution

A total of eight WE-EF FLC230 luminaires with GOBO projectors were used. Installed inside the custom metal lamp enclosures, each luminaire projects precisely shaped light onto its paired sculpture. This design allows the visual focus to sit entirely on the chiselled surface – revealing the form, depth, and artistry embedded in the stone.

The GOBO solution enabled tight beam control and minimal spill – essential for the ambient conditions of the surrounding streetscape. Beyond technical performance, WE-EF’s long-standing experience in public space and artistic lighting also made them a trusted partner for this sensitive and story-led installation.

“We’ve already had a glimpse of how engaging these works are, now we will literally see lighting shining on them, to draw people further in.”

Genevieve Sage, Waitematā Local Board Chair

Results

Lost & Found has quickly become a loved part of Auckland’s central city fabric. Local feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with passers-by, volunteers, and community members regularly interacting with the space.

“There’s been a buzz about the boulders with street whānau, staff, volunteers and those passing by, all stopping to take a look, tug at the shoes to see if they’re real or run their hands over the jacket carved from stone. It’s as though the sculptures themselves have become part of the community,”
— Deb Ward, Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai

“We’ve already had a glimpse of how engaging these works are, now we will literally see lighting shining on them, to draw people further in.”
— Genevieve Sage, Waitematā Local Board Chair

The installation offers a meaningful experience day or night, but it’s the lighting that unlocks a deeper layer of interaction – inviting exploration, emotion, and conversation. The result is a landmark moment in the creative use of GOBO projection in public art, proving once again how the right light can reveal more than just form – it can bring a story to life.