Glow Worm

摘要

For architect and designer Ali Hashmeti and his collaborator Dr. Lars Meeb-Olsohn, fabric was the perfect material from which to construct their interactive installation "Dar Luz" for GLOW 2008, the third annual International Forum of Light in Art and Architecture in Eindhoven, Netherlands. "Our general interest in fabric is that it blurs the boundaries of architecture and fashion," explains Heshmati. "Practically and economically one of the most viable materials, fabric is so flexible and versatile that we could use it and manage it to sculpt the form [in a way] we could not anticipate up front." Part public sculpture, part interactive performance piece, the installation incorporated both light and sound. In form, "Dar Luz," one of the most visited of the 20 temporary light installations at GLOW, brought to mind the body of the hookah-smoking caterpillar in Lewis Carroll's "Alice and Wonderland." Segmented and suggesting an undulating movement, the project took the form of enclosed catwalk-like structure approximately 22m long and 1.4 m wide. Visitors could enter from either end and pass through to the other side. The skeleton was constructed from ordinary lumber and fastened with screws. Over this armature Expandex was stretched with a 50% stretch in each direction. "Expandex's ability to assume a unique form under tension was important," states Heshmati. "But more important than that is its ability to work with light and color. Add to this the fact that this was an ephemeral installation, which had only 10 days to live. Expandex was also an economic and sustainable choice." The end ramps of "Dar Luz" made the project wheelchair and bicycle accessible.