THE Rose of Tralee International Festival has been one of the most colourful events on the Irish festivals calendar for nearly 60 years but this year’s Festival will bring colour to a whole new level.
The MIRACOCO Luminarium, by Architects of Air, is a fun-filled, monumental inflatable walk-in sculpture designed to generate a sense of wonder at the beauty of light and colour.
It will be located in Páirc an Phiarsaigh on lower Denny Street, between 12pm and 6pm from Friday 17th to Monday 20th August.
The Communications Manager for the Rose of Tralee International Festival, John Drummey, said: “We are very excited about the introduction of the luminarium to this year’s Rose of Tralee. Festival-goers will lose themselves, metaphorically speaking, in a dazzling maze of winding paths and soaring domes. It promises to be the star attraction during this year’s Street Festival and we hope that locals and visitors of all ages take some time to visit the Miracoco Luminarium in Páirc an Phiarsaigh.”
So what is a luminarium? It is an original modular design that can be configured according to different site requirements. Each luminarium is made up of around 20 elements that are zipped together on site to typically occupy an area of 1000 square metres. Easy to erect, laying out the structure and anchoring can take as little as 4 hours then, in just 20 minutes, the luminarium is inflated to its monumental size.
The domes rise up to 10 metres high and provide the main focal points. The convoluted tunnels determine the journey the visitor will take. The luminaria also feature at least 30 ‘pods’ that are alcoves where people can sit and relax out of the way of the other visitors.
The installation awakens all the senses, creating a sense of wonder and enchantment for all ages. Visitors are transported and immersed into an amazing world of light and subtle and saturated hues, for a unique sensory experience, and brings visual art in places where you wouldn’t expect it.
It is a paradox that such a stimulating environment can simultaneously be so calming and comforting. Many people find the luminarum a place for rest or meditation.
Admission to the MIRACOCO luminarium is only €5 per person, while toddlers aged 2 and under are FREE. It is fully accessible to wheelchair users and people with mobility difficulties. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult (a minimum of 1 adult for up to 4 children).
It will be open daily from 12pm to 6pm from Friday 17th to Monday 20th August in Páirc an Phiarsaigh.
Additional information
Since 1992 Architects of Air’s luminaria have made over 600 exhibitions in 41 countries. From Berlin to Brooklyn, Hong Kong to Hawaii, Taipei to Tel Aviv, Sao Paulo to the Sydney Opera House, the monumental walk-in sculptures of Architects of Air have enchanted audiences around the world.
Architects of Air build ‘luminaria’ – monumental inflatable walk-in sculptures designed to generate a sense of wonder at the beauty of light and colour.
The luminaria are designed by company founder, Alan Parkinson, who started experimenting with pneumatic sculptures in the 1980s. They are made at the company base in Nottingham (UK) using a plastic produced solely for Architects of Air. Only four colours of plastic are used to generate a great diversity of subtle hues. For more details, visit www.architects-of-air.com.
