Magic Carpets
Inspired by traditional Islamic art, a Casablanca cathedral was powered by projections to transform its floor into shifting, reactive patterns
Casablanca's striking architectural treasure, the Cathédrale Sacré-Coeur, saw its entire floor repurposed into a shifting, 21st-century 'magic carpet' that ebbed in reaction to visitor footfall.
Designer Miguel Chevalier was invited to create an installation for the cathedral, and the result is inspired by, and in homage to, the traditions of Islamic art, most notably mosaics and carpets. To realise his vision, Chevalier projected light animations onto the Sacré-Coeur's floor reacting to the steps of visitors: movement within the space disrupts curves underfoot and patterns change accordingly.
An accompanying soundscape was provided by Michel Redolfi, while the project was helped along by Institut Francais and Voxels Productions.
Another recent installation that pushed the boundaries of light and projection within a space is Homegenizing And Transforming World, where a maze was lined with luminescent, hovering orbs, while Silent Lights occupied an unused Brooklyn expressway, where traffic noise was visualised by bold, evolving animations.
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