For 20 years now, the Architects of Air have created traveling art pieces known as the Luminarium. Their creations are more well traveled than some travel bloggers I know – visiting over 38 countries and providing extraordinary eye candy for over 2 million visitors.
Designed by Alan Parkinson and completely made of 9000 PVC pieces, a team in Nottingham England hand cut and glued the pieces together by hand. This creates a piece of artwork that playfully displays colors and architecture together by just using the light that enters this inflatable building.
Much of the inspiration for the design comes from nature and Islamic architecture. The CUPOLA, or the principal dome (and my favorite part of the installment) has windows that simulate stained glass using the Penrose tiling discovered mathematically by physicist Roger Penrose. If you take the time to stare into the design, many different shapes and patterns will appear.
Walking in, I can say that it was close to a religious experience. This year’s piece, called the Exxopolis, took me back to my nostalgic days of Burning Man art installations on the playa. The colors so delicately bounced off the walls; the music was ethereal and perfect; the architecture, sublime.
Some people had to wait several hours in line to get into the “gallery” for their 20 minutes. I could see why though – it really was inspiring.
We left floating on air, with smiles permanently attached on our faces. It has been a long time since I had felt this way – like a child looking at the world with wonder.
Have you been to an art installment that spoke to you? What was it? Where did you see it?
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OMG what an awesome experience! I love these shots!!!
That looks incredible. Those colors are amazing! Ever so slightly psychedelic, but amazing!
It was an amazing experience.
TOTALLY. You do have to leave after a while though. The red starts getting to you.
I would never leave. Nope. You’d have to pull me out and yeah, I’d be kicking and screaming. 🙂
Definitely looks interesting, I can see why you enjoyed it so much!
I love stuff like this. Very cool and great photos.
I would like to go there now, please!
If these aren’t colorful photos then I’m not sure what are.
What a cool project, even more reason to head to Austin.
They were so intense it was hard for the camera to really register them!
I love all these colors! And it looks pretty cool from the outside too.
Wow! I MUST see this! I once waited in line on two different days for several hours (the first day I waited for hours but had to abandon the line so I wouldn’t miss class… what a dedicated student!) in order to see the Zaha Hadid exhibit in Central Park. Totally worth it!
That is some dedication lady! I think I would have done the same thing.