Los Angeles-based artist Maggie West, renowned for her innovative use of colored lighting, is set to embark on an exciting new collaboration with Insomniac for the Electronic Daisy Carnival in 2025. Known for her surreal and captivating images that blur the line between documentation and fantasy, West will bring her unique artistic vision to the vibrant world of EDC. This collaboration promises to feature West's signature photography, enhanced with exciting new applications of her work, including multiple physical installations and animated assets.
Notably, West will redesign the iconic Daisy Fields section of the festival, transforming it into a surreal nighttime garden. Her installations will include colorful photos of daisies, moths, and other plants, creating an otherworldly experience for festival-goers. The artist’s partnership with Insomniac is poised to be a groundbreaking fusion of art and music, elevating the festival experience to new heights with her visionary aesthetics.
Vibrant Daisies
Daisies will be a central motif in all of West's designs for the festival, serving as a vibrant and unifying theme throughout her installations. Various breeds of daisies will be photographed under colorful lights, each image meticulously crafted to highlight their natural beauty while infusing them with West's signature surreal aesthetic. These stunning visuals will be incorporated into her designs, transforming the festival grounds into a surreal nocturnal garden. The interplay of lights and composition will immerse visitors in an enchanting journey, making them feel as if they are traveling through a dreamlike garden filled with luminous flora.
Magical Moths
In addition to the central motif of daisies, West's designs will also incorporate colorful photographs of moths. These images, captured under her signature vibrant lighting, will highlight the intricate details and ethereal beauty of these nocturnal creatures. Much like the iconic Insomniac owl, the moth theme will further illuminate the allure of nighttime nature, adding an extra layer of enchantment and surrealism to the festival experience. The delicate and mysterious presence of moths will enhance the magical atmosphere, making visitors feel as if they are immersed in an otherworldly evening garden where every element comes to life under the night sky.
Daisy Fields Entrance
As visitors enter the Electronic Daisy Carnival, they will be greeted with the brand new redesigned entrance for Daisy Fields. This grand, beautiful entrance serves as an exciting preview of the mesmerizing world visitors are about to enter. Standing tall and vibrant, the entrance sets the tone for the immersive experience that lies ahead, drawing festival-goers into a realm of color and fantasy.
This new entrance will consist of large, colorful photos printed on vinyl, backed by wooden cutouts, creating a dynamic and visually striking gateway. Adding to the allure, the words "Daisy Fields" will be spelled out in neon, glowing brightly and invitingly. Each piece is designed with versatility in mind, ensuring that the elements are reusable and adjustable to fit entryways in different festival locations. This thoughtful design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also promotes sustainability, allowing the stunning entrance to be a feature at various events, continually captivating audiences with its vibrant and enchanting presence.
Moth Lanterns
Once visitors pass through the Daisy Fields entrance, they will embark on a journey down a dark hallway illuminated by silk lanterns in the shape of moths. These exquisite lanterns, created from West's photographs, will cast a beautiful neon light, transforming the passageway into a magical transition space. The delicate glow of the moth-shaped lanterns will create an enchanting ambiance, heightening the sense of anticipation and wonder as visitors move deeper into the festival grounds.
Crafted with durability in mind, these moth lanterns will not only illuminate the pathway but also serve as enduring art installations that can be reused in different areas of future festivals. The intricate details and vibrant colors of West's photography will be brought to life in these durable silk forms, ensuring their ability to captivate and guide festival-goers through various settings and events. This innovative use of light and imagery will make the journey through the hallway an unforgettable prelude to the fantastical world that awaits within the heart of The Garden.
Fabrication Examples
Garden Entrance
Similarly crafted with creativity and functionality, the entrance to The Garden at EDC mirrors the fabrication technique of the Daisy Fields entrance but with a distinct design and cooler color palette. Comprising vinyl prints on wood cutouts, this entryway exudes a serene ambiance with shades of blues, greens, and purples, offering a marked contrast to the vibrant hues of Daisy Fields. These elements are carefully arranged to guide visitors into a tranquil oasis within the festival grounds, where they can unwind and immerse themselves in a different facet of West's artistic vision.
Like its counterpart at Daisy Fields, the entrance to The Garden is designed for versatility and sustainability. The components, including the vinyl prints and wooden structures, are modular and re-arrangeable, ensuring adaptability for future festivals and events. This thoughtful approach not only enhances the aesthetic coherence of The Garden but also underscores a commitment to eco-friendly practices by minimizing waste and maximizing reuse. As festival-goers pass through this creatively crafted gateway, they are welcomed into a space where art and nature converge, inviting them to explore and experience the tranquil beauty of The Garden.
Fabrication Examples
Moth Chairs
Inside The Garden, visitors will discover a whimsical array of moth-shaped seats designed for relaxation and delight. Each seat is adorned with the intricate wings from West's moth photographs, creating a surreal and enchanting atmosphere where festival-goers can momentarily transform into mythical creatures. These chairs are not only a comfortable respite amid the festivities but also a dynamic interactive element.
The moth-shaped chairs encourage visitors to engage creatively with their surroundings. Guests can playfully interact with the chairs, posing as if they have sprouted wings, capturing imaginative photos that blend seamlessly with the artistic ambiance of The Garden. The design of the chairs invites exploration and invites visitors to immerse themselves fully in the artistic narrative crafted by West. As festival-goers relax and enjoy the comfort of these unique seats, they become part of the artwork themselves, adding their own touch of whimsy and creativity to the festival experience.
Floral Arches
Within The Garden, several enchanting floral archways will beckon visitors into a realm of botanical wonder. These archways, adorned with neon rings and adorned with West's captivating floral photography, will create a mesmerizing nocturnal garden atmosphere. Each archway is meticulously crafted to showcase the vibrant colors and intricate details of West's floral compositions, bathed in neon light to evoke a sense of surreal beauty and tranquility. As festival-goers stroll beneath these illuminated structures, they are immersed in a magical landscape where art and nature converge, offering countless opportunities for captivating photos and moments of awe-inspiring wonder.
The floral archways not only serve as stunning visual focal points within The Garden but also enhance the interactive and immersive experience for visitors. Guests can wander through these artistic installations, pausing to admire the fusion of neon light and floral imagery or capturing memorable photos against the backdrop of glowing blooms. The archways provide a dynamic setting for exploration and creativity, inviting festival-goers to engage with West's artistic vision in a playful and enchanting manner. Whether admiring the craftsmanship up close or posing amidst the radiant floral displays, visitors to The Garden are encouraged to embrace the magical spirit of EDC and celebrate the beauty of nature in a captivating nighttime setting.
Sustainability and Re-Use
Each physical piece crafted by West for the EDC is meticulously designed with reusability and sustainability in mind. From the expansive landscapes like Daisy Fields to the intricate details of The Garden's entrance and interactive elements, every component can be re-arranged and adapted for different festival locations. This flexibility ensures that West's artistic vision can evolve and thrive across various settings, maximizing the impact and longevity of each installation.
The materials chosen for these creations, such as vinyl prints and durable structures, are selected for their durability and longevity. While the initial build-out may involve investment, the pieces are engineered to withstand multiple festivals with minimal maintenance costs. When necessary, components like worn-out vinyl can be easily replaced, ensuring ongoing cost efficiency and sustainability in the collaboration between West and EDC. This commitment to sustainable design not only enhances the aesthetic continuity of the festival experience but also underscores a shared dedication to responsible stewardship of resources within the artistic community.
Digital Assets
In addition to her extensive array of physical installations for the EDC 2025, West will also introduce a series of innovative digital elements designed to enrich the festival experience across various platforms. Renowned for her groundbreaking animation work and mastery of blending vibrant colored lighting with natural subjects to create surreal and captivating imagery, West's digital contributions will extend the reach of her artistic vision beyond physical spaces. These digital elements are poised to enhance not only the visual landscape of EDC but also its surrounding media, promising an immersive fusion of art, technology, and music that will resonate throughout the festival and beyond.
LED Spinners
West's team is set to push the boundaries of visual artistry at the EDC by using 3D animation to bring her stunning still photos of moths to life. These animated moths will be skillfully rendered to flutter and glide through the air, transforming the garden into a dynamic nocturnal wonderland. Utilizing LED hologram spinners strategically placed throughout the space, these animations will create an illusion of the moths flying freely around festival-goers. The holographic nature of the spinners will enhance the immersive experience, casting vibrant, beautiful lights that interact uniquely with the environment, showcasing the moths in a way that traditional projection mapping cannot achieve.
The use of 3D animation and LED hologram spinners represents a cutting-edge approach to digital artistry, aligning perfectly with West's innovative blend of technology and visual aesthetics. This combination not only enhances the visual appeal of The Garden but also adds a layer of interactivity and wonder for attendees. As visitors explore the space, they will encounter these mesmerizing animated moths, their movements synchronized with music and ambiance, creating a magical atmosphere that invites exploration and enchantment. West's integration of digital elements promises to elevate the festival experience, offering a glimpse into the future of art and technology within the vibrant backdrop of EDC.
Stage Visuals
As a culmination of her collaboration with EDC, Maggie West will deploy her expertise in custom time-lapse photography to create animated assets for the Main Stage. Unlike previous floral 3D animations used by Insomniac, West's animations will feature real flowers captured in her signature style. This innovative approach not only enhances the authenticity of the visuals but also bridges the thematic elements of Daisy Fields and The Garden with the broader festival environment. By incorporating these animated assets into the Main Stage backdrop, West will weave a cohesive visual narrative that connects the organic beauty of nature with the dynamic energy of EDC.
The use of West's time-lapse photography for the Main Stage animations represents a significant evolution in how natural elements are integrated into large-scale event visuals. Each frame will showcase the intricate unfolding of real flowers, synchronized with the music and lighting of the festival, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that captivates audiences. This integration not only underscores West's innovative vision but also underscores the festival's commitment to pushing artistic boundaries and creating immersive experiences that resonate on multiple sensory levels. Through her collaboration with EDC, West continues to redefine the intersection of art, nature, and technology, leaving an indelible mark on the festival's visual landscape.