Client: El Paso International Airport, CONRAC

Overview

Radiance, developed by artists Shane Allbritton and Norman Lee of RE:Site, is an artwork designed for the El Paso Airport. The elaborate hanging piece makes use of the iconography of a mix of cultures in El Paso, translating them into a three-dimensional Mandala. Layered acrylic pieces with a dichroic film in the middle form the physical manifestation of the Mandala, which is mirrored in the supporting structure. Suspended from a steel canopy, the colorful and shifting material of the installation plays in the light, evoking the stunning vibrancy of a southwestern sunset.

Goals

For this piece the artists wanted to create a completely cohesive experience through building materials, colors and natural light. Because the artwork materials are so ethereal and throw vibrant reflections around the space, it was critical to minimize distractions.

Process

Metalab oversaw architectural design, digital fabrication, and construction management on Radiance, with the final product being a result of collaboration between the artists and Metalab. Rhino and Grasshopper were used to translate a two-dimensional design into the final three-dimensional Mandala, with the different acrylic icons arrayed in space.