After years of strife in war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina, the reopening of a small bridge this July was seen as a symbol of the healing between the Muslims and the Croats. The 16th-century Mostar Bridge, which spans the Neretva River, was destroyed in 1993 during a fierce clash in the Bosnian War. State and local officials mounted a huge ceremony to mark its reopening with over 2,000 performers from both sides of the ethnically-divided town, and it is hoped that the bridge will help encourage a new era of tolerance and increased cooperation between the two ethnic communities.
Over $13 million was spent on restoring the elegant, single arch bridge using the same materials and in the same manner as it was first built almost 500 years ago by the original Turkish architects. During the festive ceremony, three LSC maXim lighting desks handled lighting the bridge effectively, and LSC Delta data splitters ePRO dimmers were used to control the main lighting rig. All lighting production was supplied and operated by LSC’s Bosnian distributor, Masters Commerce d.o.o., based in Capljina.
The 50x50 meter stage below the bridge and the bridge itself were lit with a combination of HMI spotlights, PARs, follow spots, Clay Paky Golden Scan 3s and 4s, Stage Zooms, SGM Giotto Wash lights and Gallileos, all controlled by the maXims.
Hundreds of high-profile guests, such as Prince Charles, along with Mostar’s citizens and 650 international press and 50 delegations representing countries and institutions around the globe attended the event. Thousands of others watched from various parts of the town via several giant video screens.
