Tranquillity amid the bustle: ‘Mirage’ installation illuminates Shanghai street

The “Mirage” installation, a collaborative art project by the Design School of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and MARS Studio, was showcased at Design Shanghai @Xintiandi Design Festival from 14 to 30 June. Featuring a distinctive form and unique design philosophy, the installation was crafted to provide passersby with a moment of relaxation amid the hustle and bustle of urban life.

Since 2017, the Xintiandi Design Festival has showcased over 100 artistic installations, convened numerous professional forums, and arranged various interactive activities for the public. This year, themed “Hybrid Playground”, the festival transformed a prominent public space into an experimental venue where designers could unleash their creativity, with 22 captivating art installations presented.

The “Mirage” installation, a collaborative effort between Assistant Professor Jiashi Yu from XJTLU’s Department of Architecture and Ning Ma, founding partner of MARS Studio, was exhibited in the green space of Taipingqiao Park.

Inspired by artist Guoqiang Cai, who created iconic pyrotechnic displays at the Beijing 2008 Olympics opening ceremony, the installation aims to evoke shared childhood memories among modern people through the imagery of fireworks. This design concept also aligns with the theme of this year’s Xintiandi Design Festival, which seeks to create a “hybrid playground” for urban dwellers.

Yu explains: “The splendid burst of fireworks, along with its ever-changing geometric forms, resembles the dynamic nature of the urban landscape. The project aims to captivate an immersive experience, inviting visitors to traverse through, stoop under, and engage intimately with it, fostering reconnection between visitors and the surrounding landscape, thereby enhancing the experiential dimension of the festival.”

The installation consists of a series of undulating screens, each woven with gradient-coloured nylon threads, creating in-between spaces that blend solidity and porosity.

The gradient colours pay homage to Matisse’s painting “La Gerbe”, with green representing the natural landscape, blue representing the sky, and orange and red representing florals and fruits. These exuberant colours symbolise innocence and freedom while also reflecting the beauty of nature.

“The arc-shaped screens form a feeling of continuous circulation, allowing the audience to enter the installation from different directions. It enables the installation to organically integrate with its surroundings and offers the audience new perspectives on the city and the Xintiandi surroundings.

“We hope that visitors to the installation can momentarily escape the hustle and bustle of urban life, find a moment of relaxation, and reconnect with the imaginative and carefree spirit of their childhood,” Yu explains.

The design team also invited Assistant Professor Yibin Yu from XJTLU’s School of Film and TV Arts to compose music for the installation. Together with BWEE Technology, they developed the lighting scheme using BWEE Magic light-sound synchronisation technology. The installation allows visitors to experience the synchronised movement of light, music, and design.

Inspired by the installation’s screen design, Yibin Yu incorporated harp music into his composition and used mystical chords as the foundation of the music. The mid to high-range voices are embellished with tranquil notes and accompanied by sound effects like waves and ship whistles, creating a serene atmosphere synchronised with the city’s rhythm.

“Close your eyes, and you can feel a warm screen separating you from the bustling city,” Yu says.

In the final section, Yibin Yu skilfully blends gentle string melodies with harmonious wind instrumentations, evoking a sense of comfort reminiscent of moments shared with lovers, family, or friends.

He explains: “I hope the music can immerse people in this space and reawaken childhood memories.”

This resonates with the designers’ intention to provide visitors with a moment of relaxation, inner peace, and a sense of freedom within the protective embrace of the installation.

By Yi Qian and Wenzhen Li

Translated by Xueqi Wang

Edited by Patricia Pieterse

Photos by Guangyao Cao

Video by Roofan Lin and Peiyao Xiao