LIGHT IN HOPE
Light In Hope is a journey where visitors must face their darkness and find their light. This emotive space is inspired by the two following phrases: “there is always light at the end of the tunnel” and “there is no light without darkness”. The journey is designed specifically for Madonna del Monte, an abandoned island in Venice, Italy.
The relationship between light and dark is another crucial principle of Light In Hope. Darkness is not necessarily bad or undesirable. It is always there, but we tend to be scared of it, thus avoiding it. Darkness is the other inevitable half of light. The terrifying darkness is the reason why light is so radiant and pleasant. Darkness will always exist in our emotions, but facing darkness is the only way to find the shining light.
Light In Hope is formed from three elements: the Darkness, the Neutral, and the Light. The darkness represents our despondent emotions or traumas, which are often well-hidden. In Light In Hope, the darkness is represented by The Sunken Place. Here, visitors must experience the feeling of disturbance and restlessness, thus triggering the urge for escape. Next is The Neutral Zone, where visitors explore multiple paths and observe various views in order to reach their destination. The final destination, which is the Light, abstracts the hope that can be found at the end of the tunnel. Light In Hope emphasizes the importance of having hope. It encourages people to not give up. No matter how difficult life may be, we must keep moving forward.
The Sunken Place, taking the form of a skull, represents the darkness and depression phase. This is the entrance of the space; it is the beginning of the journey. The skull allows visitors to experience the process of going into their minds and opening up their deepest emotions.
Inside the skull, distorted human figures are found half-drowning in water and tangled in strings. These figures symbolize our chaotic minds, trapped, as if there is no escape from the darkness. The strings resemble the nervous system which controls our emotions and senses.
After escaping from The Sunken Place, visitors will enter the main exploration area, which is formed by a massive cloud structure nesting on the existing brick walls. The clouds are half-dark and half-light to represent the development of the journey. The red emissive wireframe contrasting with the dark solid metal symbolizes the co-existence of light and dark. If we search deep within the dark, we shall find light. Furthermore, the manmade wireframe structure represents light to illustrate that hope is earned, not given. It is created by our willpower.
Designed to express the idea of “there will always be light at the end of the tunnel”, the Tunnel allows visitors to immerse themselves into their surroundings, observing the prevailing emissive structure. The red emission illustrates the passion and feeling of being alive, as if the visitors are going into a beating heart.
The clouds in the Oasis are no longer half-solid, but fully wireframed, as the Oasis is the destination where light is found. Although light dominates, darkness still subsists. as there cannot be light without darkness. The water pool in the middle represents relaxation and purification, as their journey has ended.
