Location: San Felipe Sq. Zaragoza. Spain

Years: 2020

With: Laura Martínez, Alejandro Alda

Promoter: Zaragoza City Council. Area de Infraestructuras

Manufacturer: Ximenez Iluminación SL

Installer: Ximénez Iluminación sl. / UTE alumbrado Zaragoza

Photos: Sebastian Arquitectos

Auroras represent one of the most beautiful scenarios in nature, the Northern Lights. In addition, it proposes a trip to new landscapes with games of light and color, like all those rainbow drawings children have placed on their windows during the time of the pandemic. The proposal, which builds a large lamp that fills the night activity in the square with light, aims to harbor a feeling of hope and illusion.

Compounding an urban itinerary, Auroras reinforce an interesting point in the historical center of Zaragoza, in such a nice public space: St Felipe Sq. The piece dialogues with the two sculptures of Pablo Gargallo (Saludo Olímpico) , the church of S.Felipe, and the museum and the XVIIth century Arjillo´s Palace.

Photo: J.Flores

Auroras unfold in three arcs, with an overall length of 60 metres, playing with overlap and color. Technically they are formed by assembled modules made with LED technology programmed pixel by pixel, and reinforced with plastic meshes to cause a more luminous and spectacular effect. These frames curve and fold to form the auroras, which are suspended in the square. By approaching and moving away, they envelop the space imitating the movements and changes of color in nature. This is how the volumetric image of the Northern Lights is reproduced and evoked.