Header: Swita Uancharoenkul
A new artistic landmark has emerged along the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River. Through the Looking Prism is an installation that transforms our perception of light and space, unveiled at Bangkok Design Week 2024. Designed by Yusuke Hattori and created in collaboration with architectural designer Takanao Todo, this project was developed by the Singapore-based lighting design studio ambiguous. The artwork has recently won the prestigious LIT Lighting Design Award, further cementing its significance in contemporary light art.
Light without artificial lighting
Unlike traditional light installations that rely on external sources, Through the Looking Prism is designed to work exclusively with ambient light. By harnessing the city’s natural and artificial illumination, the installation creates a dynamic experience that changes with the time of day and the movement of its surroundings.
At the heart of the project is a window adorned with a wall of 300 glass prisms. These prisms capture and refract the lights of passing boats, the temples’ glow, and the urban nightscape’s scattered brilliance. The result? A constantly shifting kaleidoscope of colors and shapes that blurs the line between reality and abstraction.
As visitors move around the installation, their silhouettes merge with the fragmented reflections, creating a play of light and form. The ever-changing display invites contemplation on perception and interpretation as familiar scenes are deconstructed and reconstructed through the prism glass.
Each meticulously crafted glass prism pixelates and diffracts the surrounding light, acting as a conduit for artistic expression and inviting viewers to explore the dynamic interplay of light, space, and perception.
A sustainable approach to urban art
This project highlights the importance of sustainability and critiques the widespread energy consumption of night festivals by demonstrating how urban light can serve as a medium for art. Without adding any artificial lighting, Through the Looking Prism showcases the beauty of existing illumination while subtly raising awareness about light pollution.
Built with a stainless steel frame, the structure is designed to be both durable and adaptable. While its first iteration is in Bangkok, the designers hope to take the installation to cities worldwide. Each new location would bring its unique lightscape, allowing the artwork to take on new meanings and interpretations in its surroundings.
This project holds personal significance for its creators. Initially envisioned for another art festival, Through the Looking Prism found its home in Bangkok thanks to the efforts of Professor Todo of Chulalongkorn University.
Project info
Lighting Design/Product Company: ambiguous
Lead Designers: Yusuke Hattori
Other Designer’s names: Takanao Todo
Photo Credits: Swita Uancharoenkul
Completion Date: January 2024
Project Location: Bangkok
