Luminarium

    In beginning my learning journey into interactive forms of artwork, it is very important to look at other successful works in order to gain an insight into how to create interesting works of art. A very interesting work called Luminarium designed by Alan Parkinson, the founder of Architects of Air. The Luminarium is a very interesting group of works. Each ones is a large inflatable structure that allows people to explore inside of, and discover what it has to offer. Not all interactive works of art have to respond to viewers actions, sometimes they are just a maze that permits open exploration.
    When visitors first get a glimpse of this work, the outside does not exactly reflect that which is presented on the inside. The outer structure of this inflatable maze is a cluster of pointed geometric shapes, clustered together to create large domed structures with small connecting tunnels. If visitors are visiting at night, they might just notice that the structure appears to be glowing as if lit from the inside. When most talk about this work, it is about the inside even though the outside is an interesting phenonemon whose designer should be as proud of as the experience the inside of the structure gives guests.

    On the Architects of Air website they describe the work as "Somewhere between a womb and a cathedral" and they are not wrong. Each large structure, each being a different Luminarium, are different from the last. With many different Lumariums, each one creates a different atmosphere by the color choice, shape, and even different music. The Luminarium in the picture here is called Katena. This Lumarium takes its name from the centenary curve, "the graceful shape of a chain suspended from 2 points" (architects-of-air.com), a picture of one such curve is on the right. Each of the different Lumanirums have a different theme about them, that is reflected both on the inside and the outside.

    For example, another Luminarium is the Dodecalis. This is the newest Luminarium which is named after the dodecahedron, which is a twelve sided polygon. This work is named after this shape because this is the primary shape that the construction of the Luminarium's three domes are based on. On the inside, this Luminarium is characterized by many parallel lines of bright light, coupled with the asymmetric shape of the dome which coupled together, "...serves to disorientate the visitor in a way to make exploration more exciting..." (architects-of-air.com).This Luminarium, even though it is a completely different design when compared to the others, accomplishes the same goal that every Luminarium expresses.
    Alan Parkinson in his design of the original Luminarium wanted to give visitors an inviting, intriguing, and relaxing place that would reward exploration. These places give people a calming environment with multiple rooms that are each different colors and slightly different shape. Keeping the uncertainty of what will come next hidden and not quite predictable. There is always something new when a visitor goes from one dome to the next. When one thinks of an interactive work of art, they might think of a website with moving images that move with user input, or of videogames which are a different form of art entirely. But the Luminarium, is also an interactive form of art as the user gets to explore it at their own pace, even though the work does not have a corresponding change to a visitor's actions. Which is for the best as these works are interesting, thought provoking, and a nice place to relax that allows visitors a childlike feeling of wonder at the concept of exploring to their heart's content.

Image Sources:
Cincinnati Magazine
Wikipedia Dodecahedron