Giant 3D light sculpture of a golden chinese dragon inside the shopping center The Crystals in Las Vegas, United States of America.

MK Illumination USA

MK Illumination specializes in creative lighting solutions for Christmas and seasonal celebrations and events all year round. We help retail spaces and cities come to life with light, design, and decoration, turning an everyday space into an extraordinary place and a destination in its own right. We offer:

  • creative lighting concepts – from initial idea to design, production to installation, and support throughout
  • lighting and fiberglass products
  • creative concepts and products for amusement parks and other themed attractions

Through our American Christmas division, we also offer a range of creative solutions for flagship stores, corporate buildings and businesses, and leisure businesses, as well as for airports and railway stations.

You might have already seen some of our work at The Shops at Crystals, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Cartier.

You may also be familiar with some of our international installations like #STOCKHOLMSJUL in Stockholm, Sweden; the city of Innsbruck, Austria; and MyZeil shopping mall in Frankfurt, Germany. If you’d like to see more examples of what we’ve done, take a look at our global portfolio, which features a selection of some of the thousands of projects delivered worldwide.

Let’s connect. We’d love to show you how we can transform your space.

MK Illumination USA designed and produced the golden dragon in the header above for Western Design LLC in a long term cooperation for their clients The Shops at Crystals, a Simon Property.

Meet our team

Our team

Case Study

Case Study
Giant 3D light sculpture of a golden chinese dragon inside the shopping center The Crystals in Las Vegas, United States of America.
Shopping Center - The Shops at Crystals

An auspicious start to the Chinese New Year at The Shops at Crystals

The Shops at Crystals had a vision: they wanted to create an extraordinary highlight for their space that would celebrate the Chinese New Year and act as a show-stopping centerpiece in one of the most luxurious, elegant, and architecturally advanced retail spaces in Las Vegas.

MK Illumination USA was brought in to help them bring their vision to life and after some careful listening and review of the space, two important aspects of the project came to light. First, the dragon needed to be designed in such a way that would honor Chinese culture, weaving in meaning through color, symbols, positioning, and aspect. Second, in addition to being culturally appropriate, the design also needed to be sumptuous and contemporary, filling the available space without dominating, and blending harmoniously with the beautifully appointed collection of 50 of the finest luxury brands in the world all under one roof.

As discussions continued, an image began to crystalize of a superior dragon coated in gold, one that had lived a long and prosperous life and who now looked upon humankind with kindness and compassion. Wise and wealthy, the dragon would convey the unspoken message of stability, warmth, security, good luck and a warm welcome at all times.

From an initial sketch, a serious of 3D designs developed. The final concept met both commercial and cultural requirements, presenting a modern take on a traditional Chinese dragon as a 3D light sculpture that would use space wisely, and become a visitor attraction as well as a feature that would complement the brands in the center.

“This dragon owes its success in part to what I can only describe as a global-local artisanal process. By that I mean that a global team came together to contribute their skills and expertise, continually guided by artists from the first sketch to the welding and installation process, and the result is a spectacular display that is as much a work of art as a 3D lighting sculpture,” said Georg Öhler, Creative Director of MK Illumination

The birth of the dragon was a labor of love that involved teams in China, Slovakia, the UK, Austria and the USA, and a variety of complementary skills and technologies. The 3D frame was designed and produced in Slovakia then coated in metallic gold, its opulent finish achieved by using Italian-sourced gold pigment; its life-like teeth were the result of employing 3D printing technology, and the tens of thousands of light points were designed to illuminate the dragon and the space in which it would stand. Throughout the design and production of the dragon, designers and artists, technicians and cultural consultants worked together to ensure that the finished dragon was both culturally sound and true to the original artwork. On completion, Billy the dragon was blessed by our Chinese cultural consultants.

The final sculpture was mythical in its proportions – 24 feet tall, 53 feet long, and weighing over 3000 pounds – and its now-legendary journey took it from Prešov, Slovakia to Las Vegas, USA, in one solid piece that meant no further on-site building was required. It was secured in place at its new home in early January 2018.

The one-of-a-kind dragon now stands proudly at the center of The Shops at Crystals. It faces north, bending its head towards the Las Vegas strip. It is smiling, a red pearl in its mouth, hinting at a life well-lived and filled with enlightenment. It glitters gold, the color of the sun, of wealth, of prosperity and good fortune. And lit by over 100,000 points of light, it welcomes visitors to the center, inviting them to stay a while, to shop, and to enjoy an auspicious start to the New Year.

“The dragon is simply huge, but so is the space, and what’s remarkable is how well the sculpture works on this scale, and in the space itself. Contrary to what you might think, it’s not that easy to fill a space so well with such a large sculpture, and I believe that the reason it works so well is because MK Illumination custom-designed the dragon for this space, this location and the Chinese New Year celebration,” said Öhler.

The dragon in numbers

  • 24 FEET TALL
  • 3 MONTHS ON DISPLAY
  • 53 FEET LONG
  • WEIGHS OVER 3,000 POUNDS
  • OVER 100,000 LIGHT POINTS
  • OVER 680
  • MAN-HOURS
  • 1 RED PEARL
  • OVER 500 HOURS SPENT WELDING & SHAPING

MK Illumination USA designed and produced the golden dragon for Western Design LLC in a long term cooperation for their clients The Shops at Crystals, a Simon Property.

Contact us

30 Warren Place, Mount Vernon
10550 New York, United States

+1 914-652-0027
 dcasterella@americanchristmas.com

 

Send a message

Address

AM Experience by MK Illumination

Rua da Alagoa, Parque Industrial de Sobreposta 4715-533 Braga Portugal
+351 253 283 483
Your contact person
Nuno_Barbot

Nuno Barbot

Managing Director

Address

American Christmas by MK Illumination LLC

30 Warren Place, Mount Vernon 10550 New York USA
Your contact person

Address

BARCANA s.r.o.

Průmyslový areál Vysočany 67 348 02 Bor, Czech Republic Czech Republic
+421 517 495 780
Your contact person
Photo of Anton Kozubík from MK Illumination Slovakia.

Ing. Anton Kozubík

Business Director

Address

MK AYDINLATMA PAZ. LTD.STI.

Cakmakli Mah. Hadimkoy Yolu Üzeri No:119/A Buuyukcekmece, Istanbul Türkiye
+90 212 886 72 66
Your contact person
Oktay Süreka

Oktay Sureka

Managing Director

Address

MK Illumination – KZ

г. Алматы, ул. Тимирязева, 28 «в» офи 305/1 Алматы - Казахстан бизнес центр «Алатау Гранд» Kazakstan
Your contact person
Oktay Süreka

Октай Сюрека / Oktay Süreka

Генеральный директор / Managing Director

+7(727) 970 58 70
Address

MK Illumination AB

Kamaxelgatan 8, 212 41 Malmö Sweden
+46 (0) 40 630 04 00
Your contact person
Niclas Johansson

Niclas Johansson

Shareholder Nordic

+46 (0) 40 630 44 70
Address

MK Illumination AG

Widenholzstrasse 1 8304 Wallisellen Switzerland
+41 44 818 74 00
+41 44 818 74 09
Your contact person
Photo of Ilyas Inci from MK Illumination Swizzerland.

Ilyas Inci

Geschäftsführer

Address

MK Illumination ApS.

Fluebæksvej 190 4100 Ringsted Denmark
+45 57 67 34 88
Address

MK Illumination AS

Grenseveien 91 0662 Oslo Norway
Your contact person
Lisa

Lisa Saetre

Managing Director

Address

MK Illumination Australia

Suite 2/36-38 Gipps Street, Collingwood, VIC 3066 Australia
+61 405 609 434
Your contact person
Noah_Kash

Noah Kash

Managing Director

+61 405 609 434
Address

MK Illumination Austria

Trientlgasse 70, Innsbruck 6020 Innsbruck Austria
+43 512 202430
Your contact person
Rogier Wesling | Managing Director

Rogier Wesling

Managing Director

+43 (0)512 202430-904
+43 (0)678 128 9615
+43 (0)512 202433
Address

MK Illumination Baltic AS

Tatari 64 10134 Tallinn Estonia
Your contact person
Sergei Vassiljev

Sergei Vassiljev

Juhatuse liige / Member of the Board

+372 602 44 77
+372 55 587 058
Address

MK Illumination Belgium

Belgium
+43 ( 0)512 20 24 30
Your contact person
Rogier Wesling | Managing Director

Rogier Wesling

Managing Director

+43 (0)512 202430-904
+43 (0)678 128 9615
+43 (0)512 202433
Address

MK Illumination Canada East Inc.

629 rue Bériault J4G 1Z1 Longueuil, Quebec City Canada
+1 450.646.8111
Your contact person
5000x4000_JacintheGuenette2023

Jacinthe Guénette

Managing Director / Directrice générale

+1-450-646-8111-222
+1-514-298-3431
Address

MK Illumination Canada West Inc.

Unit 114. 19097 26th Avenue, Surrey V3Z 3V7 Langley, British Columbia Canada
Your contact person
Photo of Alex Urquhart from MK Illumination Canada West.

Alex Urquhart

Managing director

+1 604 385 5538
+1 604 230 1460
Address

MK Illumination Croatia

Jadranska cesta 25 2000 Maribor Slovenia
+386 (0)40 71 73 72
Your contact person
Damijan

Damijan Zalokar

Direktor (Managing Director)

Address

MK Illumination Design (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

上海黄浦区瞿溪路694号南一楼 128室 Shanghai China
Your contact person
Photo of Thomas Eisner from MK Illumination China.

Thomas Eisner

Managing Director (常务董事)

Address

MK Illumination Deutschland

Trientlgasse 70, Innsbruck 6020 Innsbruck Österreich
+43 512 202430
+43 512 202433
Your contact person
Rogier Wesling | Managing Director

Rogier Wesling

Managing Director

+43 (0)512 202430-904
+43 (0)678 128 9615
+43 (0)512 202433
Address

MK Illumination Handels GmbH (Global)

Trientlgasse 70 6020 Innsbruck Österreich
+43 ( 0)512 20 24 30
+43 ( 0)512 20 24 33
Your contact person
Photo of Thomas Mark from MK Illumination Austria.

Thomas Mark

President

+43 (0)512 20 24 30 - 902
+43 (0)664 340 93 73
+43 (0)512 20 24 33
Address

MK Illumination Holland

L.J. Costerstraat 15 8141 GN Heino The Netherlands
+31 (0)572 760 008
Your contact person
Bram Hulsbosch I Sales Director

Bram Hulsbosch

Sales director

+31 (0)572 760 008
+31 (0)611 603 414
Address

MK Illumination Hong Kong Ltd.

Wilson House, Suite 1303 19-27 Wyndham Street Hong Kong Hong Kong
+86 755 8230 5830
Your contact person
Photo of Thomas Eisner from MK Illumination China.

Thomas Eisner

Managing Director (常务董事)

Address

MK Illumination Hungaria Kft.

Baracsi u. 77 9423 Ágfalva Hungary
Your contact person
Photo of Viktor Gálos from MK Illumination Hungary.

Viktor Gálos

Managing Director

Address

MK Illumination Iceland

Reykjavik
+46 (0) 40 630 04 00
Your contact person
Niclas Johansson

Niclas Johansson

Shareholder Nordic

+46 (0) 40 630 44 70
Address

MK Illumination Ireland LTD

Aherla More, Aherla P31 WK72 Co. Cork Ireland
+353 (0)21 5006538
Your contact person
Photo of John Riordan from MK Illumination Ireland.

John Riordan

Managing Director

+353 (0)21 5006538
+353 (0)86 2567127
Address

MK Illumination Israel

Moshav Neve Yarak Israel
Your contact person
ANAT FARAG

Anat Yosef Farag

Chief Executive Officer

+972-52-8787770
Address

MK Illumination Italia s.r.l.

Strada Ponte Coasso snc, 10073 Ciriè (Torino) Italy
+39 0119212605
Your contact person
Photo of Guido Fiorio from MK Illumination Italy.

Guido Fiorio

CEO

Address

MK Illumination Korea Ltd

58 Baegan-ri, Yangpyeong-eup, Yangpyeong-gun 12547 Yangpyeong-eup, Yangpyeong-gun Korea
+82 2 536-5926
Your contact person
Photo of Son Inoi from MK Illumination Korea.

​Son Inoi (손금선)

Creative Director (크리에이티브 디렉터)

Address

MK Illumination Latin America

Carr. Estatal 200 km 16, Col. San Isidro | C.P.76249 | El Marqués, Qro. Azcapotzalco, Ciudad de México Mexico
+52 55 1742 2534
+52 55 5347 2085
Your contact person
Photo of José Alberto Vargas from MK Illumination Mexico.

José Alberto Vargas

Director MK Illumination México y Latam

+52 55 1742 2534
Address

MK Illumination Mexico

Carr. Estatal 200 km 16, Col. San Isidro | C.P.76249 | El Marqués, Qro. Azcapotzalco, Ciudad de México Mexico
+52 55 1742 2534
+52 55 5347 2085
Your contact person
Photo of José Alberto Vargas from MK Illumination Mexico.

José Alberto Vargas

Director MK Illumination México y Latam

+52 55 1742 2534
Address

MK Illumination OY

Keilaranta 1 02150 Espoo Finland
+358 40 362 4909
Your contact person
Sergei Vassiljev

Sergei Vassiljev

Hallituksen jäsen / Member of the Board

+372 602 4477
+372 555 87058
Address

MK Illumination Polska Sp. z o.o.

Łobzów 294A 32-340 Wolbrom Poland
+48 518 675 041
Your contact person
Photo of Marzena Seweryniak from MK Illumination Poland.

Marzena Seweryniak

Managing Director

Address

MK Illumination SARL

5, Avenue de la Fontanisse, ZAC Pôle Actif 30660 Gallargues-le-Montueux France
(+33) 04.66.51.05.85
Your contact person
Photo of Véronique d´Almont from MK Illumination France.

Véronique d’Almont

Directrice générale

Address

MK Illumination Serbian

Jadranska cesta 25 2000 Maribor Slovenia
+386 (0)40 71 73 72
Your contact person
Damijan Zalokar

Damijan Zalokar

Direktor (Managing Director)

Address

MK Illumination Slovenia

Jadranska cesta 25 2000 Maribor Slovenia
+386 (0)40 71 73 72
Your contact person
Damijan

Damijan Zalokar

Direktor (Managing Director)

Address

MK Illumination South Africa PTY Ltd.

10 Eagle Road, Imbonini Business Park, Shaka’s Head 4381 Ballito, KZN South Africa
+27 / 032 947 0383
Your contact person
Photo of Lee Rasmussen of MK Illumination South Africa.

Lee Rasmussen

Sales Director

+27 / 032 947 0383
+27 / 083 256 0860
Address

MK Illumination UA

Kurenivska 18 Blok B office 418 04073 Kiev Ukraine
+38 067 8 115 115
Your contact person
Photo of Anna Markevich from MK Illumination Ukraine.

Anna Markevich

Managing Director

Address

MK Illumination UAE LLC

Shangri-La Hotel, Office No. 702A-703A 7th Floor Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai United Arab Emirates
+971 4 298 0888
+971 4 298 0800
Your contact person
Nader Al Nashash

Nader Al Nashash

Managing Director

Address

MK Illumination UK Ltd.

Unit 1, Witton Business Park, Preston Old Road BB2 2TS Blackburn United Kingdom
+44 (0)1254 778 670
+44 (0)1254 873 770
Address

MK Illumination USA

8250 Preston Court 20794 Jessup USA
Your contact person
2020-dan-casterello

Dan Casterella

Chief Executive Officer

Address

MK ILLUMINATION, s. r. o.

Solivarská 8030/1a 080 01 Prešov Slovak Republic
+421 517 495 780
Your contact person
Photo of Anton Kozubík from MK Illumination Slovakia.

Ing. Anton Kozubík

Business Director

Address

MK Iluminación Spain

C/ Escorxador nº 13-14, Sant Pere de Riudebitlles 08776 Barcelona España
Your contact person
Enrique_sw_web_2.png

Enrique Fabregat

Director de ventas

Address

S.C MK Illumination S.R.L

Strada Mihai Viteazu, Bloc Central Residence, etaj 8, apt.48 Loc. Deva 330015 Jud. Hunedoara Romania
+40 254 712 714
Your contact person
Photo of Horea Baba from MK Illumination Romania.

Horea Baba

Managing Director

+40 254 712 714
Hello UptimeRobot