Thursday Salute to Originals: Inflatable Labyrinth of Light
“Never regret thy fall, O Icarus of the fearless flight. For the greatest tragedy of them all Is never to feel the burning light.” — Oscar Wilde
According to sculptural designer Alan Parkinson, “a luminarium is a sculpture that people enter to be moved to a sense of wonder at the beauty of light and color.”
Parkinson is known for creating immersive luminariums for patrons to interact with light in new, emotional ways. His latest construction, Daedalum, is a 153-foot inflatable maze of illuminated, colorful tunnels.
“I devise an architecture to encourage a sense of wonder,” said Parkinson in an interview with Dezeen.
The maze is made of 19 connected egg-shaped domes that are filled will soft, colorful glows. The shape of the light almost feels organic and womb-like against the curved walls, with different hues inspiring emotions of wonder, mystery and even whimsy.
Parkinson’s maze is inspired by minotaur’s labyrinth of Greek mythology, which was constructed by Daedalus — the father of Icarus who “flew too close to the sun.” At the heart of Parkinson’s luminaria is a captivating dome, featuring a 600-piece mosaic inspired by the Parthenon of Rome.
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This Thursday, we’re saluting Alan Parkinson and his maze of captivating light. Currently installed in London as part of the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, visitors can explore the illuminated cavern through mid-July.
Sources: Architects of Air, Dezeen, This is Colossal