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The sky above Nottingham's luminarium may have been grey and boring - but inside the pop up attraction it was a different matter.

Bright colours and unusual patterns adorn the walls and ceiling of the art installation which opened at Nottingham Lakeside Arts in Highfields Park today. (May 29)

While children enjoyed the bouncy castle-type material in the luminarium, a walk-in sculpture which showcases "the wonder of light and colour", adults also revelled in the relaxing colours and music.

The exhibiton was created by Architects of Air, a Nottingham-based company who take their wondrous creations all over the world.

'Albesila' started being built in January, and was only completed earlier this month. It is entirely hand made and hand glued together, and consists of 27 "quadraxial eggs" ellipses and a grand dome with 288 stars.

Richard Bryant, of West Bridgford, visited the Luminarium with his eight-year-old son Reggie.

The youngster said: "It's really good. My favourite thing is the colours."

His father added: "This is the third or fourth time we've been now and we love it. It's a new one this year and it's very impressive. Reggie has found his way around it quite quickly but I keep getting lost! It's very tranquil though."

Sarah Atkinson, of Beeston, said: "I've come down with a couple of friends and our children. Mine is a little older now so I've been looking for a quiet spot to sit down. It's very relaxing.

"We've come for the last seven years and it's really nice. It's just the fact that there's a different chamber every year and as the children get older they enjoy it even more.

"It's something a bit different to do and it's made in Nottingham so it's good to support something so local."

Jon Gatt, exhibition manager, said: "We've been coming here for 10 years and as we are a Nottingham company we also get a great reaction from those who visit.

"The sculpture is hand-built and we start off building in 2D and then make it 3D, much like someone designing a dress would do. It works from the sunlight. So the natural light shines through the coloured patches created the light, while the opaque patches create the darkness.

"It's very photogenic and is great for families and children, which is why we always support this event at half term. But adults enjoy it too and many find it relaxing. They 'colour bathe' where they just lie on the floor and bask in the colours."

Alan Parkinson, founder and director of Architects of Air, and designer of the Albesila, added: "The public complete the creation of the luminarium by bringing themselves inside; by the way they inhabit the structure. It shouldn't be a solitary experience sharing the space, seeing how others move within it, how the light transforms them is intrinsic to the experience.

"I do what I do because when I go in the structures I experience the same thing now that I experienced 25 years ago when I built my first luminarium and that is the sense of being touched by the beauty of the phenomenon of light. It's a simple thing but I think a sense of wonder is a precious thing and worth sharing."

The luminarium is open until Sunday, from 11am until 5.15pm, except on Thursday, when an adult-only session is held from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Entry costs 4.

Go here to see the original:

World of colour at Nottingham Luminarium lights up gloomy Bank Holiday - Nottingham Post