A LUMINARIUM is coming to Compton Verney Art Gallery.
Described as “somewhere between a womb and a cathedral” Nottingham-based Architects of Air have been creating and installing luminaria in over 40 countries around the world for over 30 years.
And their latest – Timisien – is coming to Compton Verney in August.
Timisien – named after the Romanian city of Timișoara, one of the three European Capitals of Culture for 2023 – has previously stopped in cities such as Madrid, Sydney, Barcelona and Los Angeles during a world tour and is monumental in size.
It is over 40-metres in length, complete with 20 domes that are connected and supported by a labyrinthine network of columns and tunnels.
Designed by company founder Alan Parkinson, the luminarium is inspired by natural forms, geometric solids, Islamic and Gothic architecture.
Visitors are invited to enter and kick off their shoes. Once inside, they are free to follow a map around the installation or find a cocooning pod in which to sit or lie back and enjoy the ambience.
The experience is further enhanced by the subtle sounds of a specially composed immersive soundscape and radiant colour, coming simply from daylight shining through finials on top of each of the domes.
These ‘skylights’ control the colour and intensity in each dome where they shine below and encourage the visitor to look up.
Stretching high over visitors’ heads the expansive canopy of the monumental main dome features a rare heptagonal motif from Islamic traditional architecture. The smaller outer dome is inspired by Gaudi’s Casa Guell in Barcelona.
Geraldine Collinge, Compton Verney’s CEO, said: “The Timisien luminarium is a truly unique experience, in which visitors will be immersed in a world of light and colour. I anticipate everyone’s reaction will be one of sheer delight at the way daylight takes on a new and unexpected luminosity that will really play on the senses in an exciting and completely unexpected way.”
The Luminarium will be open in the grounds of Compton Verney from Tuesday August 1 to Sunday August 6.
For more information visit www.comptonverney.org.uk
