Light Theaters
Riccardo Blumer teamed up with MADWORKSHOP, students from the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio and Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) in new exhibition at Villa Panza.
Light carves out the world around us. It separates night from day, and its particles are always in motion. Recognizing these peculiarly architectural qualities of light, MADWORKSHOP, the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio and FAI - Fondo Ambiente Italiano are launching Light Theaters, a new exhibition at Villa Panza in Varese, Italy.
Director of the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, Riccardo Blumer has spent the last six months working closely with the Academy’s students, studying the dynamics of light in space. This exploration is now culminating in an exhibition of ten elaborate new pieces that intrigue the eye and play with perception, illuminating and refracting the ocular experience. Inspired by everything from VR and sci-fi to the luminescent grandeur of high baroque, these visually stimulating installations are unified in their use of artificial light as a sculptural medium.
The exhibition was also inspired by the nearby Sacro Monte di Varese complex, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Several of the artworks also consider the history and scenography of this historic place, tracing ancient lines of pilgrimage through the surrounding mountains with light beams and immersive experiences.
