“Tunnel Of Light” is the art installation created by Beijing MAD Architects studio, at the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel in Japan. The 750-meter gallery, which is part of the Echigo-Tsumari 2018 Triennale, has been transformed into an exhibition space with five installations representing nature elements of water, fire, earth, metal, and wood. The artistic event features 160 works of art created in many villages in rural prefecture of Niigata, but the particular position of this installation has the potential of offering panoramic views of the surrounding valleys, composed of hardened lava rock formations.

The architect’s intention is to redevelop the region by exploring the relationship between man and nature in a semi-abandoned area with an older population. In the installation dedicated to water, “Light Cave”, we find a pool that projects beautiful reflections on the ground, as if it were an extension of the landscape itself; “The Drop” represents the fire through a series of convex mirrors with orange backlighting. ‘‘Expression Of Color” symbolizes earth through a passage at the entrance of the tunnel illuminated by multiple color lights and ambient music, while metal is represented with “Invisible Bubble” from a capsule-shaped structure with a public toilet, covered from a metallic film. Finally, “Periscope” representing wood, is a hut of this material that includes a café, a shop and a wellness center.

The result is very interesting and you can see it both in our gallery and on MAD Architects’ site.