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“Light Lillies” modular light experience by Collective Paper Aesthetics in Exploratorium

Image courtesy of Exploratorium

Photo by Joseph Byford. Courtesy of Collective Paper Aesthetics

Photo by Joseph Byford. Courtesy of Collective Paper Aesthetics

Photo by Joseph Byford. Courtesy of Collective Paper Aesthetics

Photo by Joseph Byford. Courtesy of Collective Paper Aesthetics

Thu, Nov 21 - Sun, Jan 26  2025

Exploratorium, Pier 15, San Francisco, CA 94111

Step into the art and science of light … and recharge your winter wonder.

From November 21, 2024 until January 26, 2025, the Exploratorium presents the winter light exhibition Glow: Play in the light, including Light Lillies, a modular light experience by Collective Paper Aesthetics in Bechtel Gallery 3.

About Light Lilies

As you walk around this light sculpture, notice the different shapes and angles that comprise the structure. Light Lilies is a modular light experience integrating mathematics and electronics. This 2.7-meter (8.85-foot) illuminated sculpture is composed of 36 bilunabirotunda. Each 3D polyhedron consists of 8 equilateral triangles, 4 regular pentagons, and 2 squares, and has 26 edges and 14 vertices (the point where three or more edges meet). The bilunabirotundas are constructed of a polypropylene honeycomb core material that is very strong, lightweight, recyclable, and thus great for building. Build your own glowing geometries at Light Lilies Pop-Up Architecture! You can connect the folded shapes from their triangular, square, or pentagonal sides. One of these three connections will change the color!

About the Artist

Based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Collective Paper Aesthetics, founded by architectural designer Noa Haim, designs and develops audience engagement materials and STEAM education resources in the form of pop-up architecture and furnishings. The studio offers a unique experience merging mathematical expertise, hands-on engineering, and universal design as placemaking.

Discover more luminous artworks in Glow that dazzle and surprise

  • Play experimental LED dungeon crawlers (Robin Baumgarten).
  • Delight in glowing geometries, then fold and build your own (Collective Paper Aesthetics).
  • See real objects float with movie screen technology (Toshio Iwai).
  • Count the craters on a vast glowing moon (Luke Jerram).
  • Paint the walls with digital light and shadow (Zach Lieberman).
  • Walk inside hypnotic 3D illusions and question what’s real (Olivier Ratsi).
  • Soak up prismatic color inspired by particle physics (Akiko Yamashita).
  • Try out new exhibit prototypes in the Light Lab.

Still light-curious? Tinker with color and shadow in Bechtel Gallery 3, and enjoy illuminating live programs for both adults and kids. Don’t miss this beloved annual expansion of our iconic exhibits on light.

DutchCulture USA