Students and faculty members from VCUarts Qatar MFA In Design Programme present Virga, a bespoke light installation built in collaboration with the teaching and fabrication facility Atelier La Juntana and lighting supplied by Applelec Lighting.
Inspired by the virga cloud formations, each cloud form was designed by a separate participant in preparation for the wood bending workshop and making of the installation held at Atelier La Juntana. At the workshop the participants explored the ancient process of steam bending, as well as techniques such as 3D printing, tailoring fabric and incorporating lighting solutions were also explored.
Supporting the project, Applelec Lighting worked closely with Atelier La Juntana and VCUarts Qatar to manufacture bespoke, architectural lighting solutions to bring illumination to the Virga installation. Created to precise requirements the lighting solutions fitted neatly within the sculptural framework, where the bright illumination through the lamps’ fabric diffuser obscures and scatters the light, resulting in the collection of softly glowing cloud forms.
Producing atmospheric lighting, each lamp’s power levels were controlled, gradually dimming and brightening across the installation. recalling the shifting light of a partly cloudy day. Exhibited at the VCUarts Qatar Gallery Doha, Qatar, Virga is suspended from motorised pulleys and equipped with laser range finders, creating an interactive, kinetic installation that subtly rises and falls, dims and glows brighter in response to the passage of time and presence of gallery visitors.
