The Exchange is a new contemporary art gallery, cafe and education space in West Cornwall. It was the former telephone exchange and has been transformed by MUMA architects into an inspirational space.

The concept for the light work came in response to the architectural glass wall that runs the length of the building. Inspired by the colours of the sea and sky around the Penwith peninsula the light work uses high powered LEDs to illuminate the 55metre glass facade with waves of soft diffused blues and greens creating a mural of light. The installation is interactive, changing colur and sending pulses of light triggered by the people and environment around the gallery.

There are 150 arrays of blue, green and white high-powered LEDs one between each fin. The space between each fin acts like a light pipe, and the light is bounced up and down creating a sumptuous glow.

A barometric sensor slowly changes the background colour depending on atmospheric pressure. There are proximity sensors at either end of the facade that pick up the movement of people and send pulses of white light along the facade at walking pace.

Commissioned by the Newlyn Gallery for the Exchange Gallery and realised in collaboration with project architects MUMA.