'Mirror Mirror', a public installation designed by SOFTlab, opened over the weekend alongside Alexandria, Virginia's revamped Waterfront Park. The 8-foot-tall, interactive piece is the inaugural project for the city's public art series which is a key part of efforts to enrich the experience of the waterfront along the Potomac River.
"We were inspired by the architecture of the lighthouse and how it uses a lenticular lens to cast light, panoramically connecting land and sea," says artist and architect Michael Szivos of SOFTlab as their newest public installation opens.
For 'Mirror Mirror', the New York-based studio, whose expertise ranges from digital fabrication to immersive and interactive installations, decided to take a note from the nearby Jones Point Lighthouse, which uses a special type of device called the Fresnel lens to emit light.
Playing with reflection and refraction, the installation is set up as a 25-foot-long open circle. On the outside, monochromatic mirrors reflect its urban environment, creating a panoramic vision of Old Town and the river. Inside, the interior surfaces are tinted with a full color spectrum, adding a vibrancy and activating the space.
LED fixtures have additionally been installed in each of the vertical components. Triggered by sound, the columns light up as visitors interact with the piece. Described by the designer as a "forest of light," SOFTlab and the city are hoping the public work will blend together "the waterfront, the fabric of Old Town, and the activity of pedestrians in the new park."
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