Briana Clark

Acid Graphic Elements Filled Complex Sparkle

BRIANA CLARK

Lighting Designer & Technical Production Artist

Photo by Claudio Kirac, 2023

Briana Clark acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which she creates, the Jagera and Turrbal people. She recognises their meaningful connection to the land, seas and waterways and respects their sacred and nurturing connection to the earth. She pays her respects to their Elders, lores, customs and creation spirits. She recognises that Country was violently stolen and colonised, and that sovereignty was never ceded. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were and always will be the first owners of the land and have been the first art makers and story tellers.

Photo by Christian Nimri, 2023

About Me!

Briana Clark (She/Her) is an emerging queer Asian Australian technical production artist based in Meanjin.

While completing her degree she has found a fascination with lighting design and its multi-dimensional power to transform space, time, and atmosphere.

Over the course of her professional career, she has found pure enjoyment for story making in contemporary dance and circus, with the magic of lighting design.

Alongside this she is a skilled technician and is exploring stage managerial roles. Her ultimate passion is uplifting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ stories in and behind the scenes of live performance. For future practice, she hopes to create and uplift art that is fulfilling and ignites politically important conversations in Meanjin.

SHE / HER

Recent Work

2023

BREAK by The Farm & Cecila Martin

Lighting Designer

2023

Rhona's After Party by Tom Oliver

Lighting Designer

2023

OBSCURA by Circa

Production Technician, LX & SND Operator

2023

Wynnum Fringe Speigeltent

Lighting Operator

2023

Stunt Double bu The Farm

Assistant Stage Manager

2023

Hide The Dog by Performing Lines

Assistant Stage Manager

2023 - NOW

Metro Arts

Lighting Technician

2023 - NOW

Gardens Theatre

Lighting Technician

2022 - NOW

La Boite Theatre

Lighting Technician

2022 - NOW

Brisbane Powerhouse

Lighting Technician

2022

ON by Circa

Lighting Secondment

2022

Tight In The Bud by QUT

Lighting Designer

2022

The Wolves by QUT

Head of Lighting & Lighting Designer

2021

Wattlebrush by Vena Cava

Head of Lighting, Lighting Designer & LX Op

2021

The Inevitable Nature of Change by QUT

Sound Programmer

2022

Second Year Acting Short Play Festival

Sound Operator

2021

Dance 21 by QUT

Assistant Stage Manager

2021

Undercover Artist Festival

Volunteer Crew

2021

Shelter by The Drawer Productions

Production Technician & Sound Operator

2021

Second Year Acting Short Play Festival

Volunteer Crew

Download my CV

BREAK

Break is an autobiographical dance, theatre, circus work, where Cecilia Martin shares her story of recovery when her dreams are shattered and how human connection is the core to our existence. Ceci reminds us that in a world where our dreams can be fragile, the bonds we form with one another are the very foundation upon which we rebuild. It is a powerful testament to the extraordinary capacity of the human heart to mend and to reach out when we Break.

Briana Clark had her professional lighting design debut for Break with The Farm, (2023) the show premiered at HOTA and toured to Metro Arts, with sold out shows! Her approach to lighting this work was to create light that came from within Ceci, which was deeply personal and aimed to evoke warmth, connection and vulnerability.

Photo by Claudio Kirac, 2023

Photo by Christian Nimri, 2023

Photo by Claudio Kirac, 2023

Photo by Christian Nimri, 2023

“The atmospheric lighting from Briana Clark adds greatly to the visual design of Rozina Suliman.” Arts Hub

“Break features excellent lighting and sound design.” Nothing Ever Happens In Brisbane

“Lighting design by Briana Clark complemented the sparse visual design of Rozina Sullivan. The shroud of smoke around the room added intrigue and a dream like quality to Martin’s reflections.” Theatre Haus

“Briana Clark’s lighting design colours Ceci’s recalled world, even creating a warm and comforting sepia tone to her side-lit curtain call. Similarly, dramatic retelling of a major career ‘break’ (the accident that jeopardised her professional career) makes for powerful fusion of sound, lighting and increasingly frenzied movement.” Blue Curtains Brisbane

RHONDA'S AFTER PARTY

Photo by Matt Taylor, 2023

TIGHT IN THE BUD

Tight In The Bud was an original collection of short stories written by Lewis Treston and Hannah Belansky. The plays explored the journey of self-discovery as a universal odyssey, uniting audiences in their collective search for meaning and finding oneself. All of the stories are a celebration of the human spirit, wanderlust and embracing the unknown.

This project was Briana Clark's last QUT lighting design. Her creative approach embodied the idea that self-discovery is a journey emphasised by vibrant contrasts and ever-changing hues of life. Each world was distinct and memorable as the play episodically came back to each slice of life. The visuals were intended to be sharp and captivating, changing the atmosphere right before the viewers eyes. The colourful space reflected how young people view the world - bright and forever moving. The lamps and chandeliers scattered in the set represented pockets of memories that the characters kept with them along the way.

Photo by Nathaniel Knight, 2022

Photo by Ruby Shannon, 2022

Photo by Nathaniel Knight, 2022

Photo by Briana Clark, 2022

Photo by Ruby Shannon, 2022

THE WOLVES

On the surface The Wolves revolves around a girls soccer team, but beneath the green field, there is a world of real adolescence intricacies. The play transcends the boundaries of sport and shows the complexities of their interpersonal relationships, their shared experiences, their dreams and their conflicts of youth. In the end, the girls learn that what makes them a team is deeper than just soccer skills.

This was Briana's first lighting design at QUT. As the cast was an ensemble, she looked at the piece as if it was dance. She used a lot of side lighting to build shadows and shapes on the players, as if they were dancers. These creative choices allowed her to balance when the team was united and moved in sync, juxtaposing when they fell out of that. The design was simplistic and allowed theatrical moments to feel giant, therefore evoking powerful emotions which coincided with the girls and their big feelings as adolescents.

Photo by Ruby Shannon, 2022

Photo by Briana Clark, 2022

Photo by Ruby Shannon, 2022

THE LIGHT COLLECTOR

Briana's exhibit, The Light Collector, is her graduating piece, a part of Standing By, Technical Production Showcase, 2023. It is an ode to being playful with colour and light. It is a lovely reminder that life forms can exist by being equally imperfect and beautiful. The premise allows audiences to clip gels onto birdies and see their lighting design come to life. It is underscored by an atmospheric track with a glockenspiel tune which Briana created! The splendour of this piece is enhanced with colour mixing, dimension and shadows - showcasing the magnificence of light as an artistic expression. This interactive exhibit is Briana's love letter to lighting design and sharing that joy.

Through the process of creating The Light Collector, Briana found a love for playing with clay, creating shapes and discovering new textures! Through BUMP IN she made a little clay friend named Philbert, who lives within the piece!

Photo by Briana Clark, 2023

Photo by QUT CI Marketing, 2023

Photo by Briana Clark, 2023

PHILLBERT

Phillbert is the little clay friend lives amongst this piece

Photo by Briana Clark, 2023

Clay Origins

All photos were taken by Briana Clark, (2023)

Volunteering as a Studio Hand at Mas & Miek Ceramic House to learn how to care for & recycle clay

Learning how best to mould clay, shape it and make it into sculptures

Using tools to experiment and attach clay pieces to each other

Using foil and tape to make the foundation of the pieces

Testing light with gel onto the clay to see the texture under the light

Setting up the creations to see how they fit together

THE LIGHT COLLECTION

As a tribute to her final University project, The Light Collector, Briana wanted to create a gallery of photos - The Light Collection. Consisting of moments in her life where she has photographed light, whether that is at concerts, random encounters, or of her loved ones. The Light Collection is a tribute to the essence and vibrancy of life and how light gives blissful meaning!