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Urban Toronto’s coverage of Corus Quay continues with a spotlight on three competition-winning, specially-commissioned installations by UK Art Practice Troika – Shoal, Lightning Bolt, and Drizzle – that define the building at the confluence of city, water, and sky. Text by Doug Convoy Photos by Interchange42
Corus Quay Troika Art-Installations
Shoal
Spanning 50 meters along the ceiling of the public passage through Corus Quay, Shoal is comprised of 467 individually-rotating fish-like elements made from iridescent dichroic acrylic and controlled by custom-designed electronics.
The ‘fish’ rotate on their own axis in interdependent movements reminiscent of a shoal.
The spatial experience of the corridor is activated and transformed in infinite dialogue with Lake Ontario beyond.
Lightning Bolt
12 m high x 8 m wide x 3 m deep, Lightning Bolt propagates in three dimensions within the south face of the atrium at Corus Quay overlooking dockside and the lake.
Seven branches emerge from a central stem in 166 individual segments made from stainless steel and Makrolon cladding and containing 35,000 LEDs.
Lightning Bolt slices through the architecture of the building, relocating it within nature.
Presently, the installation is undergoing cleaning and fine-tuning of its custom-built controls. It should be fully operational in the coming days.
Drizzle
Shimmering droplets of light fall to the ground in this 17 meter-long installation embedded in the exterior soffit of Corus Quay.
Encompassing 28 fixtures with 16 light elements each, Drizzle immerses visitors in a shower of refracted colour in homage to Isaac Newton.
Science and nature merge in Troika's Shoal, Lightning Bolt, and Drizzle through re-imagined displays of basic natural phenomena, reflecting and reinforcing the fundamental qualities of Corus Quays itself. Which brings us to the end of our feature on Corus Quay. Urban Toronto in conversation with Troika founders Sebastian Noel and Eva Rucki. Conny Freyer, Troika's third founder, joined the discussion moments after this shot was taken.
| Related Companies: | Diamond Schmitt Architects |
