At first glance, Emergence is a precise and intelligent visual play with light and reflection that challenges our perception of space. Its mirrored surfaces create a multi-layered reflection of the surrounding environment and the presence of individuals within the structure. Through multiple image fractures, it forms a kind of visual illusion that results in a non-linear and fluid spatial experience. This combination of mirrors and light generates a sense of timelessness and placelessness, as if the observer is caught in a labyrinth of simultaneous perspectives. The lighting design keeps the viewer suspended between the duality of stillness and movement: up close, the lights appear as interconnected invisible spheres, while from a distance, they form a structured grid pattern that contrasts with the fluidity of the interior experience.
The functionality and mechanism of this piece are executed in an intelligent manner using addressable LED systems. These lights not only create an organic structure within the environment but also establish a hidden interaction: each visitor who enters the structure seemingly dissolves into the lights and becomes a part of them without physically altering the installation. This interaction provides a unique experience for each observer some may perceive it as a space for meditation and contemplation, while for others, it might serve as a perceptual and gestalt-like spatial game. The sustainability of the work is also noteworthy, as it integrates low-energy technology with reflective surfaces to achieve maximum visual impact without the need for complex physical structures.
Emergence strongly evokes the buildings of Archigram or the ideals of Japanese Metabolism architecture; a space that does not function merely as a static structure but appears alive and dynamic through changing lights and reflections. This piece conjures an image of future cities, where architecture is built not with concrete and steel but with light and reflection. The experience of being within it is akin to standing in the corridors of a digital mind a mind that dissolves the boundaries between reality and virtuality, offering moments of visual trance to the observer.
Brand : This is Loop Ltd
Designers : Alan Hayes, Harriet Lumby
Photo Credits : Alan Hayes
Prize: LIT Lighting Design Award
