Umbra

Light Installation for Llum BCN 2023

El Poblenou, Barcelona, Spain

Brief

Set amongst a derelict landscape within the city, the empty lot of Poblenou has progressively been removed from meaning; leaving a functionless space in an organised city-grid. Rather than attempting to re-invent the atmosphere of the space, the aim of the installation was to enhance the characteristics of the site through the generation of a new landscape.

Proposal

In a cosmopolitan city, a building-less plot of land seems otherworldly. Through a dance of light and shadow, Umbra magnifies the dematerialisation of this void, by exploring the intervention of bodies in a vast landscape. The simple act of gathering the community within the space, creates a meeting made of silhouettes and movement; painting a new scenery for the terrain. The presence of each individual gives new value to physical emptiness.

One of the main aims of Umbra was to generate elongated shadows that spilled across the floor, taking possession of the blank space that once existed within the desolate lot.

Construction

With the help of Playmodes Studio, we were able to create a 3 minute-long light sequence which was visualised with After Effects and programmed with Arduino software. The sequence included a balance of playful rhythms, with long moments of still light to capture the elongated effect of silhouettes.

From the programming, to the assembling of the electronic boards and wiring; each step of the process was carried out by the MEATS students. We placed over 100 concrete blocks onsite to house the LED lights, and left a designated space for three smoke machines which were stationed evenly around the circle.

Credits

Photography: Lorna Mulero, Ramon Garcia

Videography: Mariano Rodríguez

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