kinetic mirrored installation in portugal by moradavaga evokes a shoal of golden fish

mirrored gold installation by Moradavaga forms a kinetic shoal

A-L-M-A-D-R-A-V-A is a site-specific installation by Moradavaga, created for the 2026 edition of the Mar Motto festival in Faro, Portugal. Located within a former beer factory near the Ria Formosa Natural Park, the project interprets the spatial and cultural context through a kinetic system that responds to environmental conditions.

The installation references the historical practice of tuna fishing in the Algarve, particularly the almadraba technique, which uses a network of nets to guide fish through a controlled path. This logic is translated into a suspended composition of interconnected elements, forming a spatial field that suggests both movement and entanglement.

The work is composed of numerous mirrored, gold-toned fragments arranged to evoke a shoal of Atlantic bluefin tuna. These elements are suspended within the structure, where they respond to changing conditions such as sunlight, wind, and weather. Their reflective surfaces generate shifting patterns of light and shadow, producing a continuously evolving visual environment throughout the day and night.

from above, the piece reveals the unity of the ensemble | all images courtesy of Moradavaga

reused components transform into floating spatial installation

Rather than replicating the original fishing process, A-L-M-A-D-R-A-V-A installation by Moradavaga Studio reinterprets its spatial characteristics. The suspended forms function as a visual marker at the entrance to the festival site, guiding visitors toward the exhibition areas and establishing a point of orientation within the industrial setting.

The project also incorporates components from earlier works by Moradavaga, including Sunwheel (2016) and Wishwall (2024). These elements are reassembled into a new configuration, aligning the installation with broader themes of material reuse, environmental awareness, and the cultural significance of maritime practices in the region.

each symbolic tuna mimics the scale of its real-life counterpart

hovering above the ground, the ensemble portrays a small shoal of swimming tuna

shimmering golden pixelated fish figures project endless shadows and water-like reflections

A-L-M-A-D-R-A-V-A establishes a visual dialogue with preexisting wall art

natural and artificial light continuously produce a never-ending myriad of projected shadows and reflections

hundreds of suspended golden shingles reflect light and project shadows all around

A-L-M-A-D-R-A-V-A evokes southern Portugal’s traditional tuna fishing techniques

metal grids and cables symbolise fishing nets and systems

shiny golden hues contrast with the rundown premises of the old factory

festival goers may move around freely under the kinetic suspended installation

endless reflections throughout the day and night create underwater atmosphere

project info:

name: A-L-M-A-D-R-A-V-A

designer: Moradavaga | @moradavaga

location: Faro, Portugal
collaborator: Lola Burdin
commissioned by: Mar Motto
thanks to: All the Sciaena team

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom