The Art Basel International Art Show is one of the largest events the city of Miami Beach, FL, hosts throughout the year. The event attracts over 50,000 art collectors, art dealers, artists, curators, journalists and art lovers from around the world. Miami Beach is a fascinating city with a vibrant, glamorous night life. The city is known for its Art Deco District which was the exhibition site for Art Basel 2004. The World Trade Center in Miami is also known as the Bank of America Tower. It was designed by the world renowned Architect I.M. Pei in 1986 and stands prominently on the Miami skyline. This defining 47 story skyscraper marked it’s presence in the Art Basel as one of the most eye-catching illumination works of art.
The concept for the illumination was “light in motion” and based on natural forces - light, wind and physics - to paint changing reflective patterns onto the building. The project was executed using Alanod’s Miro 27 optical grade aluminum which has a 94 percent reflective rating. The aluminum was shaped into cylinders with several long fringes cut into the top. As the wind blew, the fringe would move with it, similar to the movement of long grasses or reeds, changing the way the light reflected onto the building. Individual cylinders were then mounted vertically on top of each of the one hundred and four Metal Halide 1000 Watt light fixtures that surround four levels of the building’s façade.
Each cylinder contained mirrored reflectors, suspended above the lights, which would spin independently through convection heat moving through the cylinder that contained approximately nineteen prisms. The reflector and prisms manipulated the light before bouncing it off of the reeds and then onto the building. The resulting effect was one of light constantly in motion, painting the building at angles determined by the movement of air. As the wind changed so did the appearance of the colors. A variety of colored gel filters were placed on the lights each day and created an ever-evolving palate of color.
Architectural design by I.M. Pei, Pei, Cobb, Freed, and Associates