Your Interview Karla Lopez

Introduce yourself (name, company, position, country) and tell us how you got into lighting design (including education/qualifications).

Hi! My name is Karla López and I’m from Mexico. I am a lighting engineer. While I was studying for my university degree, I started working in a theater: I started as a stagehand and ended up as a lighting director. Now I dedicate myself to lighting concerts and festivals. For me, designing lighting should not only be through a visual medium, but also through the interaction of all our senses. That is why, through lighting, I create stories that have a poetic value whose fundamental element is light.

Tell us about your work – is there a specific type of project you like to work on or an area you specialise in and why?

It’s amazing how technology grows day by day. I started with conventional lights, I was not used to handling robotic systems. Little by little I was introducing this type of spotlights and seeing all the possibilities it offers. That is why I was inclined to design and program the lighting. Robotic lighting offers a versatility that cannot be ignored. Thanks to the technology that leads us to new extrasensory experiences, these allow us to question the way we live day to day and the most everyday moments.

What project are you most proud of and why?

Every project is unique because every artist is different. I'm proud of myself and for all the projects that come out of my lighting work, where different people from different geographical locations participate. These projects take a bit of each of the people that make up the team, and the effort, creativity, perseverance and passion that we put into it is reflected. It does not assume a routine operation, but rather a specific set of operations designed to achieve a singular goal.

What is the biggest challenge that you have overcome in your career?

See the world in a different way. Never stop studying, technology advances every day and we have to be aware of the advances that are happening in order to work with the best tools. Enjoy the experience of knowledge and creativity, knowledge is obtained throughout life and this is because each project is unique and requires specific needs for its function. I love the different ways I can express and communicate solutions and ideas with different elements to use so that our message is clearly conveyed and understandable to the audience.

How does light inspire you?

It is an intertemporal journey, where transformations and incarnations occur with the creation of light. Look for meanings and forms. It transforms our concept of seeing and understanding our environment. Light is the protagonist in revealing what we see on stage. As a designer It's to express our artistic message, to investigate and analyze the study of light. Making lighting a unique expression.

What is your message for other Women In Lighting?

Let’s make a lighting empire! Your energy, vision and time are special and inspire all of us. When you come across an idea you can't stop thinking about, it's probably a good idea to pursue it. Not only think of ideas, carry out and work on your ideas and make your goals and dreams come true.