BLINK: Architects of Air presented by Duke Energy

Visitors remove their shoes before entering an airlock. Once inside they can wander freely or just lay back and enjoy the ambiance of the structure.

The first reaction is often one of delight at the unexpected beauty of the light. The radiance of the daylight transmitted by the coloured pvc of the luminarium is surprising in its luminosity and makes a direct impact on the senses. Through labyrinthine tunnels and cavernous domes, visitors move in a medium of saturated and subtle hues. Vivid reflections of liquid colour spill across the curved walls creating a world apart from the normal and everyday. Visitors are excited to discover how different colours blend or resonate; how they transform faces and clothing. Some explore, following their maps through the maze immersing themselves in radiant colour.

No two visits to a structure are alike as the atmosphere inside alters according to changing weather and changing light outside. The experience is also affected by how the public inhabits the luminarium.It is a paradox that such a stimulating environment can simultaneously be so calming. Many people find the luminaria a place for rest or meditation. Visitors try to put their experience into words – comparing the experience to being in a futuristic space station or the human body. Sometimes the structure may be animated by a musician or a storyteller but, more often, the space is enjoyed in its simplicity. As such, it is appreciated by people of all ages from all backgrounds

Architects of Air TIMISIEN Luminarium is designed by Alan Parkinson: www.architects-of-air.com