Biolumen is a collaboration with RAW Design. It’s an immersive experience with changing light, texture, and sound. Biolumen features ten large luminescent structures where art, science, and nature merge. Inspired by deep-sea Radiolaria, “Biolumen” represents resilience and beauty in harsh environments.

Biolumen was inspired by Radiolaria, which are tiny single celled animals. Their name means ‘small sunbeam.’ Ocean floors are thick with their astonishingly beautiful skeletons, made from silica. Radiolaria live symbiotically with algae who feed them with sugars they make from sunlight. Some Radiolaria are bioluminescent because of the bacteria that live within them. The visual and sonic harmonies created by this installation are a tribute to symbiosis, and the ideal of humans living in balance with nature.

At night the sculptures become luminescent and glow from within and project colourful beams of light through their perforated skeletons, creating a dazzling display on the surrounding environment. Immerse yourself in this light and explore the changing patterns produced by interacting with the sculptures.

The differentially coloured inner and outer layers of the Radiolaria sculptures reveal a different way for you to experience sounds and sights of each of these sculptural creatures in the daytime.

Accompanying sounds are an original score by Jaclyn Blumas that emit from within the sculptures. It is an ambient sonic landscape that evolves over time and with interaction.

Biolumen, by Radha Chaddah x RAW Design, is a co-production of Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, the City of Mississauga and Culture Shawinigan, with distribution by QDSinternational.

Creation: Radha Chaddah 
Design: RAW Design 
Sound design: Jaclyn Blumas 
Co-production: Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, The city of Mississauga and Culture Shawinigan 
Distribution: Quartier des Spectacles International
Fabrication, executive Production, touring: Jack World