morag myerscough & luke morgan add immersive camera obscura to mexico city square

morag myerscough & luke morgan add immersive camera obscura to mexico city square
images by morag myerscough & luke morgan

in the ‘zocalo’ square, the heart and most significant public space in mexico city, morag myerscough and luke morgan have realized a landmark installation that encourages visitors and passersby to consider their surroundings. commissioned by abierto mexicano de diseño festival and the british council, ‘mirar — ways of seeing’ is a monumental, building-sized camera obscura. installation onlookers can enter the colorful chamber through a large portal situated on a scaffold-supported structure. this raised platform allows visitors to view the familiar plaza in perspectives and angles never before experienced. once inside the dark room, the camera obscura effect works to create an upside-down, two-dimensional projection of the outside environment.

‘mirar — ways of seeing’ is a monumental, building-sized camera obscura

the phrase ‘look & see’ on the top of the installation, coupled by a giant eye, reiterates the artists’ appeal to visitors to appreciate the sights and sounds around them. similarly, a series of swings fixed underneath the platform allow people to stop and rest within the plaza, while simultaneously participating in an activity that is not familiar to the area. by sharing this unexpected view, the artists hope that local people and passersby may see things they would normally ignore in a new light.

the phrase ‘look & see’ is situated on the top of the installation, coupled by a giant eye

visitors enter the building-sized camera obscura through a dark portal

colorful geometries made from wood contrast the surrounding landscape

the installation encourages visitors to stop and appreciate their surroundings

a large eye at the crown of the structure suggests the installation contents inside

a raised platform allows visitors to view the familiar plaza in perspectives and angles never before experienced

the artists hope that local people and passersby may see things they would normally ignore in a new light

a scaffold structure is fixed with swings, that allow people to enjoy the landscape

the project has been built in one of the most important public spaces in mexico city

zocalo square from above, with the eye-catching installation front and center

read our interview with graphic artist morag myerscough about her influences and the evolution of her work on designboom here.

project credits:

location: zocalo square, mexico city
type of project: temporary installation
designers/artists: morag myerscough & luke morgan

client: abierto mexicano de diseño festival 
and the british council
renata becerril / amd executive director.
lorenzo alvarez, emiliano godoy, iván w. jiménez, malcolm llanas, ricardo lozano, alfonso maldonado, carlos ortega, marina peniche, ariel rojo, maría romero, joann ruiz-galindo, francisco torres, gerardo zaldívar / amd board members.
joão guarantani / british council 
senior programme manager | regional lead: americas
paint sponsor: comex
start on site date: 17th october 2015

completion date: 20th october 2015
festival duration: 21st — 25th october 2015
external dimensions of the structure only: 14msq
height of structure: approx 10m
take down: the scaffolding is hired and the painted panels are being given to a school
photographer: morag myerscough & luke morgan