ATLANTA, GA.- This summer, the High Museum of Art debuts the interactive outdoor environment “Panorama” (July 12-Dec. 1, 2024), a kaleidoscope of color, light and reflection by Rotterdam-based Studio Sabine Marcelis. The immersive site-specific sculptural installation is the ninth in the High’s multiyear series of inclusive and inviting commissions to activate the Woodruff Arts Center’s Carroll Slater Sifly Piazza.

“Panorama” consists of four glass pillars that rotate, reflecting light, scenery and the urban environment of the piazza. As the pillars move, they act as magnets to their surroundings, pulling light into a desaturated space to generate colorful reflections, increasing the visual impact of the work. By entering the space between the pillars as they rotate, visitors are given a seamless visual experience that offers a different perspective of their surroundings. The installation literally and metaphorically reflects the sun, transforming perceptions and injecting warmth into the experience of entering the piazza.

“‘Panorama’ creates a welcoming, engaging and dynamic optical experience at our front doors, which continues our commitment to curating a creative environment from the moment you step on our campus,” said High Museum of Art Director Rand Suffolk. “We are proud to be the first U.S. institution to commission Sabine’s work, and we are delighted for our visitors to experience this installation by such an innovative and respected artist.”

The installation presents a new dimension for Studio Sabine Marcelis, as it is the designer’s first monumental and kinetic work that embraces dynamism through movement. Known for working with elements like light and glass, Marcelis has fused her work in spatial design with the High’s mission to present interactive activations, resulting in a unique installation that speaks to her continued innovation and manipulation of materials.

“Sabine Marcelis creates projects that are sensitive to their surroundings using reflective glass as a material to question our initial impressions. What happens when we see things differently? Can we gain new clarity in our lives?” said Monica Obniski, the High’s curator of decorative arts and design. “Through the experience of ‘Panorama,’ Sabine is asking us to set aside preconceived ideas and embrace an open mind toward new experiences.”

“Panorama” builds on the success of the eight previous Piazza commissions: “HAPPY JOYLANTA” by Tanya Aguiñiga (2023); “Outside the Lines” by Bryony Roberts Studio (2021); “Murmuration” by New York-based architectural firm SO - IL (2020); “Sonic Playground” (2018) by Japanese designer Yuri Suzuki; “Merry Go Zoo” (2017) and “Tiovivo” (2016) by Spanish designer Jaime Hayon; and “Mi Casa, Your Casa” and “Los Trompos” (“The Spinning Tops”) (2014-2015) by Mexican designers Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena.