KATENA

EVENTS

  • Date

    2019/04/02 TUE

    2019/04/21 SUN

    Weekday: 12:00-17:00 
    Weekend: 09:00-18:00

  • Venue

    NTCH Main Plaza

  • Production

    Architects of Air

  • Price

    Weekday (without time slot limitation) 200NTD

    Weekend (with time slot limitation) 250NTD

    Weekday Family Activity (for parents and children under 5-year-old) 400NTD

A massive and colourful pneumatic structure sweeps down on the NTCH Main Plaza. 

Inspired by nature, geometric shapes, as well as Islamic and Gothic architecture, Katena was created by the UK-based company Architects of Air. Time's engravings gave colour to architecture; light and shadows left their marks on spaces.

Katena takes its name from the catenary curve - the characteristic shape of a suspended chain, such as was used by Gaudi to design the Sagrada Familia. More than 100 catenary curves are found inKatena. The first catenary encounter is in the airlock where the windows have the form of an inverted catenary. Entering the Green Dome the catenary appears as a motif generated by displaced seams. The spectacular Main Dome of Katena has been likened to a Hindu temple. Its construction widened the boundaries of our pneumatic explorations with an intricate mesh of riveted and sewn reinforcement defining the shape and over 200 colour spots swirling upward to a green finial.

This is a place of serenity for all to explore and experience in every way. We cordially invite you to join us for a journey in Katena, to enjoy the shimmering beauty of colour and light.

ALAN PARKINSON & ARCHITECTS OF AIR

Founder, designer and artistic director Alan Parkinson first started experimenting with pneumatic sculptures in the 1980s and has since developed his own language of form in this plastic medium. In 1992 he established the company 'Architects of Air' to build and tour his luminarium designs.Alan describes his intention as an 'Architect of Air' in the following terms:"What motivates me to design is the fact that I continue to be struck by the beauty of light and colour found in the luminaria. These structures nurture an awareness of a pure phenomenon that gently cuts through everyday conditioned perceptions and awakens a sense of wonder in people."

The pneumatic form has a simple purity that echoes that of the light it contains.It has been Alan's work to explore what is possible within the laws of pneumatics to develop an architectural aesthetic capable of doing justice to the beauty of the light in the luminarium.

Production Team

  • Artistic Director │ Alan Parkinson
  • Exhibition Manager │ Florence Guerin, Matthew Warren, and Mali Gondesen