In May 2024 the Doncaster Festival of Colour welcomed 6,300 visitors to the Luminarium.
Dodecalis Luminarium, Architects of Air - Alan Parkinson
25th May - 30th May 2024
Videography by David8 Photography
Photography by Lewis Chetcuti
What is Luminarium?
A Luminarium is a sculpture people enter to be moved to a sense of wonder at the beauty of light and colour. A dazzling maze of winding paths and soaring domes where natural forms, Islamic architecture, Archimedean solids and Gothic cathedrals meld into an inspiring mix of design and engineering.
Since 1992 over 3 million visitors in more than 40 countries across 5 continents have immersed themselves in the spectacular and luminous world of Architects of Air.
“Excellent that this is wheelchair accessible for my 9 year old son with complex disabilities. Was great we could experience something as a whole family - great sensory experience.”
Luminarium - Dodecalis
Dodecalis is named after the dodecahedron – the 12-sided Platonic solid based on pentagons. Dodecalis’ main feature is 3 domes based on a stellated and truncated variant of the dodecahedron. The dome’s asymmetry serves to disorientate the visitor in a way to make exploration more exciting and new design techniques enable a fluid breakdown of the form into flowing neon-like contour lines of vibrant intensity.
Above eye-level one can see more clearly the dome’s pentagonal foundation and can sense what it is like to be inside a Platonic solid. Dodecalis’ tranquil Main Dome carries on with the motif of neon-like tracery and an imposing Blue Tree completes the ensemble.
Photograph by Jo Rawson
Alan Parkinson - Founder, Designer and Artistic Director
Founder, designer and artistic director Alan Parkinson first started experimenting with pneumatic sculptures in the I980s and has since developed his own language of form in this plastic medium.
Alan Parkinson’s involvement with inflatable structures began on a Nottingham community project in 1981. He designed and built his first luminarium in 1985, with the aid of offenders required to do community service as their punishment. In 1990 he created ‘Eggopolis’ which was the first of his luminaria to be shown outside Nottinghamshire. In 1992 the community project closed down and Architects of Air was formed.
Alan Parkinson’s intention is to stimulate visitors to a sense of wonder to the beauty of light and colour, and create an environment where the visitors experience is influenced by their own relation to space.
Since 1992 Architects of Air, a Nottingham based company, has built 21 luminaria, made over 600 exhibitions, and toured in 43 countries where over 3 million visitors have immersed themselves in the luminous world of Architects of Air.
The Conversation Club Visit the Luminarium
THe Noise Collective
Throughout the seven days of delivery we worked with several partners, including a collaboration with the Priority Community Project ‘Noise Collective’ working with XP and Ridgewood School.
The groups had been working with Paul Littlewood, Skinny Pelembe and Leonie from Luxury Goods to create a piece they would perform inside the Luminarium for the launch of the Doncaster Festival of Colour.
Throughout the hour and a half of the launch of the festival, over 117 audience members experienced the musical performances from 10 groups.
Photography by John Owens
OUR PARTNERS
For the days we opened to the public we had six partners support festival delivery, programming activities around the event.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Audiences could find out how Yorkshire Wildlife Trust are protecting wildlife across Yorkshire, and discover how you could make a difference for nature in your neighbourhood with #TeamWilder and sow native wildflowers in your very own compostable pot to decorate and grow at home.
The Baretoed Dance Company
The Baretoed dance company brought beautifully coloured cocoons and silks for chilling, finding an upside down view of the festival and climbing, swinging and experimenting with suspended shapes.
The Don Catchment Rivers Trust
Audiences could experience the secret world of colour through the eyes of insects and birds! The Dark Box: See how your pictures change in UV light and how insects and birds see in the UV spectrum! Bug Masks: Transform into a buzzing bee or a delicate butterfly. Slip on our bug masks and experience life through different light spectrums.
Cre8ive Dance Academy
Cre8ive Dance Academy offered free Creative dance workshops inside the Minster and pop-up performances on the grounds of the Minster inspired by the Doncaster Festival of Colour.
Active Fusion
Active Fusion Delivered sports activities alongside the Luminarium to promote keeping children and their families active whilst experiencing arts and cultural activities.
The Poetry Takeaway
The Poetry Takeaway team visited the Festival of Colour on the Wednesday, serving up poems to the visitors of the Luminarium. The team of poets were joined by a student from New Pastures Primary School in Mexborough.
The 71st Hunafa Scouts
The Cre8ive Dance Academy
“We loved it! The crew were all friendly. A great experience for my 7 year old and I love having free art events to bring her to and get her interested in these experiences.”
The Don Catchment Rivers Trust
“Great that could take my 91 year old mother in wheelchair. She loved it.”
The Poetry Takeaway
“Wonderful experience. Great to get children involved and feel part of the community.”
