united visual artists: slipstream light installation

‘slipstream’ light installation by united visual artists

london-based art and design practice united visual artists (UVA) have created the light installation ‘slipstream’, designed for toronto’s nuit blanche and on permanent installation in eaton centre.

the light sculpture spans the upper segment of the atrium at a length at approximately 443 feet (135 meters), enhancing the connection between the viewer and the vast glass vaulted ceiling of the centre.  the 70 prisms that comprise the installation are fashioned from stainless steel, acrylic, and LEDs, hung from the ceiling of the galleria by suspension wire.

each of the prisms reacts to the movement of the sun, wind and various meteorological factors throughout the day as they remain suspended in the space, each on a rotation of one degree from its neighbors. when stripped of light as an influencing force, the prisms pulse through a series of colours and shades via an automated system coded by UVA.

the prisms are influenced by external light during hours of sunlight

closer view of the installation during daylight

view of ‘slipstream’ during night hours

the prisms move from one shade to the next on their own accord with the absence of light

views of the ground floor perspective of the suspended sculpture

the project was commissioned by the cadillac fairview corporation limited for toronto eaton centre and fashioned by lumid of montreal.