Invited by the Shenzhen Light and Shadow Art Festival Organizing Committee, MARS created a lighting art installation titled “Yu” at the Civic Square in Futian District. The design features four curved steel structures of varying heights and undulating shapes, forming a distinctive spiral semi-enclosed space. Fiber ropes, woven like strings connecting vertically, create a delicate, misty surface that forms a miniature “urban island” within a play of light and shadow.
△ Bird’s-eye view
Walking through the valley of light
Within this swirling landscape of light and lines, “Yu” explores the space between individuals. Its circular layout, reminiscent of rising mist, envelops the viewer, creating a gentle harmony with the light. Each spiral element represents a unique individual, encouraging encounters and communication through continuous rotation and overlap.
Experience the shifting interplay of light and shadow within the swirling valleys
At night, the installation appears as a hazy island
Visitors are invited to stand and observe within the space, experiencing the dynamic changes of color, light, and shadow. Through this interaction, a symphony of time and color unfolds. In the intertwined threads, viewers see reflections of themselves and others, merging across dimensions and moments in time.
The interweaving of light and shadow
The Duet of Time and Color
△ Scale dialogue between the installation and the city
The inspiration behind ‘Yu’ stems from human encounters and communication. Visitors are encouraged to reflect on the meaning of meeting strangers and how connections are formed in today’s fast-paced urban life. Interaction with the installation prompts contemplation on interpersonal relationships and social connection.
Spiral structure from above
△ Structural diagram
Like a vibrant and magnificent painting
This installation incorporates three layers of interaction: first, the exploratory engagement between people and the artwork; second, the situational interaction among visitors themselves; and finally, the subtle dialogue between the installation and the urban environment.
△ Open entrance
Light sculpts space, defining its contours and imbuing it with spirit. Within this secluded valley, faint light flows and shuttles like a radiant painting. As visitors venture deeper, the fusion of human presence and light creates a dynamic interaction. The viewer becomes central, immersed in a field where visual perception transforms through reflections of color and light, crafting a hazy island where illusions and light walk hand in hand.
△ Micro light shuttle circulation
△ Device details
Project Information
Project Name: Shenzhen Light and Shadow Art Season – Yu
Design Unit: MARS Planet Architecture
Design Period: October 2023 – November 2023
Location: Shenzhen, Guangdong
Dimensions: 12 × 12 × 2.8 meters
Lead Architect: Ma Ning
Design Team: Yang Shaohui, Wang Tianqi
Lighting Design: Chen Mengting
Photography by Luo Canhui
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