Interactive Installation at Canary Wharf

The etymon of the word 'voyage' comes from Latin viāticum, which means 'provision for travelling'; the inspiration of this artwork is to allow people to travel and sail with absolute freedom to all the places we care to imagine. Paper boats bring us in voyages through childhood memories, wishes and imaginings. Paper boats’ on the water invite everyone to make a transition from reality to imagination, reliving childhood memories and embracing our freedom. Creating an unexpected and unusual addition to the landscape, Voyage inspires the viewers to think creatively about the spaces around them; the dynamic coloured light scenarios of the artwork invite the viewer to make a smooth transition between reality and daydream.

T

he idea is that the fleet of small paper boats composes an organic matrix of lights that uses the water as canvas for drawing ever changing coloured lighting effects to create an imaginative and immersive magical landscape. Blurring the lines between the real and hyperreal, it will invite the thoughts of the visitors to cross the borders of their imagination. 

There are different points of view to appreciate the installation: a more intimate scale where people near the water can see the small paper-boat items and connect to their poetic character and a more majestic view: a glowing area of more than 50 by 15 meters - from a longer distance. People can see the spectacular scenography of the entire fleet from the windows of the nearby buildings or from the bridge, where they can appreciate the dynamic scenery. 

'When night comes I bury my face in my arms and dream that my paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars. The fairies of sleep are sailing in them, and the lading is their baskets full of dreams.'

(R. Tagore)