IRIS (2015-2017)

This project began as a research collaboration between the Interactive Architecture Lab, under the direction of Ruairi Glynn, and the studio Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF). It culminated in a large-scale public kinetic lighting installation, designed by MLF and unveiled at The Lowry Theatre in 2017.

The work originated with an experimental robotic rig built to choreograph the orientation of a circular array of 30 lasers. This prototype revealed compelling perceptions of volume and space constructed from light alone, creating an experiential quality distinct from single-source projections, such as Anthony McCall’s Line Describing a Cone.

The resulting installation, titled Iris, employed the principles of ruled surface mathematics to generate forms like hyperboloids, paraboloids, and Archimedean spirals. We transformed these abstract mathematical concepts into inhabitable, instantly transformable spaces, functioning both as an engaging aesthetic experience and a potential educational tool.

Furthermore, the use of simple lines within a featureless environment shares a visual vocabulary with experiments in perceptual psychology concerning spatial awareness and reasoning. This connection suggests significant potential for future interdisciplinary collaborations in that field.