Radiant art experience of light and sound at Yonge-Dundas Square with BIOLUMEN by Radha Chaddah x RAW Design
Biolumen, by Radha Chaddah x RAW Design
MEDIA RELEASE – Yonge-Dundas Square is proud to present Biolumen by Toronto-based visual artist and scientist Radha Chaddah and architectural firm RAW Design from March 1 to April 1. Biolumen by Radha Chaddah x RAW Design is an immersive experience with changing light, texture, and sound. The art installation features ten large luminescent structures where art, science, and nature merge. Inspired by deep-sea Radiolaria, “Biolumen” represents resilience and beauty in harsh environments.
Installation Name: Biolumen by Radha Chaddah x RAW Design
Where: Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas Street East, Toronto, Ontario
When: March 1 to April 1, 2024
Hours: Daily from noon to 10pm
Admission: Free
At night the sculptures become luminescent and glow from within and project colorful beams of light through their perforated skeletons, creating a dazzling display on the surrounding environment.
In the daytime, the differentially coloured inner and outer layers of the Radiolaria sculptures reveal a different way to experience sounds and sights of each of these sculptural creatures. Accompanying sounds are an original score that emit from within the sculptures. It is an ambient sonic landscape that evolves over time and with interaction.
Biolumen, by Radha Chaddah x RAW Design, is a co-production of Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, the City of Mississauga and Culture Shawinigan, with distribution by QDSinternational.
Julian Sleath, General Manager of Yonge-Dundas Square shares, “With the dark and cold days of winter, we are thrilled to present this radiant and immersive art experience created by Torontonians to brighten up the winter season. Toronto residents and visitors will be enchanted and inspired by Biolumen by Radha Chaddah x RAW Design and we can’t wait to see how they interact with the installation.”
“As an artist who lives and works in Toronto, I’m excited to see Biolumen shown in my hometown at Yonge-Dundas Square,” says Radha Chaddah, Biolumen’s creator, visual artist and scientist. Reflecting on her artistic inspiration and intention with her work, Chaddah also shares, “Biolumen was inspired by Radiolaria, which are tiny single celled animals. Their name means ‘small sunbeam.’ Ocean floors are thick with their astonishingly beautiful skeletons, made from silica. Radiolaria live symbiotically with algae who feed them with sugars they make from sunlight. Some Radiolaria are bioluminescent because of the bacteria that live within them. The visual and sonic harmonies created by this installation are a tribute to symbiosis, and the ideal of humans living in balance with nature.”
Suleman Khan, Intern Architect, from RAW Design adds, “Biolumen provides a captivating peek into the interplay between Radiolaria and our environment. Through immersive design, we aim to evoke a sense of emotion, fostering a personal connection to the natural world. As designers, our goal is to create active public spaces that not only stimulate the senses but also inspire contemplation and appreciation for the delicate balance of nature."
Biolumen Credits
Creation: Radha Chaddah
Design: RAW Design
Fabrication: Jack World
Sound design: Jaclyn Blumas
Co-production: Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, the City of Mississauga, and Culture Shawinigan
Distribution: Quartier des Spectacles International
Executive Production, Touring: Jack World
Share the Experience
Visitors are encouraged to share their Biolumen by Radha Chaddah x RAW Design photo and video experiences on social media by tagging @ydsquare and #ydsbiolumen for a chance to be featured on Yonge-Dundas Square’s social channels and onsite digital screens.
For more information, please visit our website: ydsquare.ca/biolumen
Experience even more with IllumiNite
To light up the heart of Downtown even more, Yonge-Dundas Square has collaborated with Downtown Yonge BIA’s IllumiNite experience. Visitors can continue to immerse themselves in art and light experiences at the nearby Trinity Square and storefront installations along Yonge Street. For more information about IllumiNite, visit their website: downtownyonge.com/illuminite
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About Yonge-Dundas Square
Yonge-Dundas Square is designated as a public open space and event venue that can accommodate events of various sizes, hosting up to 200 event days each year. The Square opened in 2004, a result of the City of Toronto, residents, businesses, and community groups working together. In addition to the many community-based festivals, charity, and City of Toronto produced events, it’s the only civic square in Toronto that welcomes bookings for commercial events and promotions. Yonge-Dundas Square is an agency of the City of Toronto, managed, operated, and maintained by the Yonge-Dundas Square Board of Management. On December 14, 2023, the City of Toronto announced that Toronto City Council adopted a motion to change the name of Yonge-Dundas Square to Sankofa Square. The Square will continue to operate under the name of Yonge-Dundas Square until the changeover is completed mid-2024. More info.
About Radha Chaddah
Radha Chaddah is a Toronto-based visual artist and scientist. Her work examines the interconnectedness of our material reality from the micro to the macro. In her studio she designs large scale projected light installations for public exhibition. She prepares samples and shoots much of this imagery in laboratories at the University of Toronto. There, Radha uses the tools of research science to grow cells using embedded fluorescent light-emitting molecules. She examines these cells and myriad other fragments of nature using a variety of imaging systems from light-based laser confocal fluorescent microscopes to non-light based ultra-high magnification scanning electron systems. More info.
About RAW Design
RAW Design is a Toronto-based architectural firm that works on a wide variety of scales and project types. From community greenhouses to large residential developments, not to mention outdoor interactive installations, its team of 60 architects and designers takes a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach. For Biolumen, the firm assembled a team of professionals from several fields (applied science, technology, art and architecture). More info.
About Quartier des Spectacles / Quartier Spectacles Partnership
The Quartier des Spectacles is Montreal’s cultural heart, boasting North America’s greatest concentration and variety of cultural venues. The district is the year-round host to countless festivals and events, many of which include free outdoor shows and activities. The Quartier hosts innovative urban installations featuring cutting-edge lighting design, immersive environments and interactive digital spaces. Year round, the Quartier presents artistic video projections on building façades. The Quartier des Spectacles is also a showcase for new multimedia technology, making Montreal a global leader in the urban exhibition of digital content.
The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization with more than 80 members active in the district. It is responsible for animating the Quartier des Spectacles by programming cultural activities, managing and animating public spaces, providing distinctive illumination and promoting the Quartier as a must-visit cultural destination. The Partnership is supported by the Ville de Montréal. More info.
For more information:
Marnie Grona
Yonge-Dundas Square
Marketing, Communications & Corporate Partnerships
marnie@ydsquare.ca | (416) 979-9960 ext. 125
For media requests:
Megan Ip
Publicist, SPECTRE
megan@thespectreagency.com | (514) 463-8231
