A World of Curiosity and Discovery: Gold Digger Courtyard Installation in Tortosa, Spain.

Dubbed ‘Gold Digger’, this glittering large-scale public installation by Nicola Dario Baldassarre, Salvatore Dentamaro, Francesco Di Salvo and Ilyass Erraklaouy was composed of golden thermal sheets, occupying the Patio de Sant Jordi and Sant Domènech, a16th century convent in the city of Tortosa in Catalonia.

Designed for the 2021 edition of A Cel Obert, a festival of ephemeral interventions, the installation explored the world of curiosity and discovery. The festival aims at transforming unknown historical spaces into a stage for artistic creations and reclaiming the architectural heritage of the city through ephemeral art. 10 points from us!

Related: ‘Types of Spaces’ Installation by Palma and Hanghar.

Gold Digger installation highlighted the inherent quality of the thermal sheet and create two opposite experiences that symbolised the duality between two spaces—hot and cold, light and shadow, silver and gold. As the fabric was suspended 1.30 metres above the floor, light penetrated through circular holes measuring 600mm in diameter, pierced into the fabric at strategic points.

The golden side of the fabric faced the interior of the patio, while the silver one faced the building. In this way, the fabric created a clear chromatic difference between the exterior and the interior of the courtyard.

Related: Part of Something Installation by KN Group and Stamos Michael.

On first impression, the installation felt dark and cold thanks to the silver side of the fabric. However, the points of light produced by the holes invited the users to explore what was on the other side. To access the light, visitors had to actively bend down and step under the fabric.

Looking through one of the holes, the users discovered a luminous world hidden inside the courtyard, created by the golden surface of the fabric. Here they could also admire the statues of kings peeking through the other holes in the fabric. With the constant breeze of Tortosa moving the thermal sheet, new light reflections were created alongside a sound reminiscent of ocean waves.

Visitors were encouraged to interact with Gold Digger, not only admiring the sculptural details of the Renaissance ornaments in the courtyard, but also interacting with the other visitors. We only wish we could’ve seen it in person too.

Related: Objects of Common Interest’s Inflatable Installation at Brussels Design Museum.

[Images courtesy of Nicola Dario Baldassarre, Salvatore Dentamaro, Francesco Di Salvo & Ilyass Erraklaouy. Photography by Antonio Bouzas Barcala.]