A Shimmering ‘Sunwheel’ In Porto
- Words
- Monika Mróz
Situated inside the fountain of Porto’s main boulevard, a site-specific installation by the Portuguese collective moradavaga produces magnificent shimmering light effects that change according to sunlight and wind direction.
In addition to its breathtaking light effects, it also produces a tender sound and provides unexpected reflections.Manfred Eccli and Pedro Cavaco Leitão, the architects behind the project, took inspiration from one of Portugal’s best known festivals, São João. They linked the festival’s popular icon – the wheel of the traditional water mills – with the old pagan sun cults from which many traditional festivities have originated, creating an art installation reminiscent of a sun. Made of hundreds of little golden moving plates, the eight meter wheel interacts with its surroundings, reacting to weather, time of the day or even the actions of visitors. In addition to its breathtaking light effects, it also produces a tender sound and provides unexpected reflections.
All images © courtesy of moradavaga