Mirazozo Luminarium

"A luminarium is a sculpture people enter to be moved to a sense of wonder at the beauty of light and colour" Architects of Air

I met up with my friend S today. He's moving away, we decided to have a "festival day" and just wander and see where they day took us. I don't think he realised my view of the festival when he suggested it. I hadn't heard of the mirazozo but on the description of a giant inflatable sculpture of light and colour, I was more than happy to visit it. And it was just that. The areas in the picture that appear coloured were actually a silvery grey plastic fabric, the areas that were white were extremely thin strips of coloured plastic which when light passed through them, illuminated the giant sculpture.

You left your shoes at the door and entered via an airlock. Once inside it was eeriely quiet and calm. We wandered, disorientated, unsure if we'd seen a room before or where we were in this giant space. I can't explain the feeling being in there. We found a "dimple" to sit and relax in. Coloured light played over the walls. Small children ran and shouted but it faded in to the background and felt like we were the only people in there. They suggest a 25 minute visit but before long we'd been in 50. When we finally left we were filled with calm, relaxed and quite spaced. There was the warm glow as if coming round after a long massage. The next hour or so we spent wandering the streets, watching shows, just enjoying the city. The festival rage only creeping back in as we were leaving.

Each Luminarium takes 5 - 6 people working full time for 4 - 6 months to complete the handmade structure.

If ever you get the chance to go in one of these amazing sculptures, do, you won't regret it!

Architects of Air