Light Sculpture Installation
Ministry of Culture of Spain
FORTUNA | Tabacalera Promoción del Arte Madrid, Spain 2013
La Fragua, Tabacalera, is the building of the former Tobacco Factory of Embajadores. It is currently in public ownership under the Ministry of Culture of Spain through the General Directorate of Fine Arts (GDFA). Due to the building being part of historical heritage, the government has listed it as a Heritage of Cultural Interest site.
Media: LEDs, diffusion and reflective material, custom lighting sequence, electrical hardware.
Dimensions: 95 ft x 15 ft x 14 ft
Please click here to learn more about the project.
On one of my trips to Madrid, I was fortunate enough to visit and photograph the magical Tabacalera. Immediately, I thought how wonderful it would be to have the opportunity to create a project in this space. Then, feeling inspired, I asked my guide to save all of the rolling paper for me. I knew I would use this paper one day for my work. FORTUNA, located in the Tabacalera, is a light sculpture that reflects the history of the old Tobacco Factory, which was there before the art center. The name FORTUNA comes from the filters used for the La Tabacalera cigars. When one lights a cigar, the papers that surround the tobacco start to disintegrate from the heat. It is the filter, however, that allows the tobacco flavor to come through before it comes to an end. During the 1700s, cigars were widely popular and could be smoked by all. Everyone could be fortunate to own it, hence the concept of sharing. From sharing comes the fortune of doing good for others.
