The Lotus Dome by Daan Roosegaarde

The Lotus Dome by Daan Roosegaarde is a living Dome consisting of hundreds of ultralight aluminium foils that unfold in response to human behaviour. The high-tech work of art has been travelling the world since it was created in 2012. Having been on display at a number of historical locations abroad, the Lotus Dome is now facing a contemporary juxtaposition with the Rijksmuseum’s 18th-century period room. The Lotus Dome comes to life in response to a visitor’s body heat. Hundreds of aluminium flowers unfold, a deep bass sound fills the space and light projects the lotus flowers onto the walls. Roosegaarde calls it Techno-poetry. The smart Lotus foil was designed by Studio Roosegaarde and its designers. The foil is made up of different layers of Mylar, a type of polyester, which makes the leaves fold and unfold in response to light and heat.

The Lotus Dome by Roosegaarde is on display in the Beuning Room of the Rijksmuseum, an 18th-century Amsterdam room, originally from a Keizersgracht property. The mahogany panelling and original stucco ceiling with paintings by Jacob de Wit and Jurriaan Andriessen are typical of the 18th-century Rococo style. The ultramodern Lotus Dome in the context of this classical room of splendor creates a  iconoclash of era’s resulting in a fascinating spectacle.

Daan Roosegaarde is a Dutch artist, designer and architect who combines technology, architecture and nature in tactile high-techworks of art. He wants to fire the imagination by creating interactive works of art that present a new, futuristic dream world. He works with a team of designers and technical experts from his studios, located in Waddinxveen, the Netherlands, and Shanghai. He first became famous in 2006 with ‘Dune, the interactive landscape of light.’ Since then his work has been exhibited across the globe, in museums such as Tate Modern and V&A in London, and museums in Tokyo and Hong Kong. He has won numerous international prizes and is a popular speaker.

When in Amsterdam make sure to visit it at the Rijksmuseum (and naturally see the rest of the collection as well), but be there early as the museum tends to get really crowded during the day.

The exhibition of The Lotus Dome will run until the 5th of May, for more information see here.