Lionheart Capital commissioned Yvette Mattern to activate her large‐scale public art light installation during Art Basel entitled, The Global Rainbow

Sponsored by The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach

Reigning over an expansive seven acre property on a private marina that flows effortlessly into the ocean, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach caters to the ultimate tropical Miami lifestyle taking design inspiration directly from its natural light and undisturbed views.

Designed by celebrated Italian architect Piero Lissoni (his first full-scale architectural project in the United States), the property is in close proximity to the trendiest restaurants and world-class entertainment. Architecturally, with light serving as the overarching inspiration for The Residences, it is an opportune moment to celebrate this vision and bring it to the public’s eye.

Lionheart Capital, a Miami-based global real estate development firm, and the developers for the property, have commissioned Yvette Mattern, a New York and Berlin based visual artist whose work has been exhibited internationally, to activate her large‐scale public art light installation during Art Basel entitled, The Global Rainbow. Mattern’s exploration and fascination of light over the years has brought this massive jeweled beauty to life, creating a natural yet over-the-top experience.

We recently sat down with both Lissoni and Mattern to discuss architectural philosophies, art and how the two connect the design of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach to the light in Miami. The installation which will begin on Monday, November 28th atop Lionheart Capital’s office in the Miami’s Design District and transcend over The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach landing onto the ocean and visible for 25-miles.

A EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURAL PHILOSOPHY, BY MR. PIERO LISSONI:

Tell us about your first full-scale architectural project stateside, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach.

My design approach to residential is based on the same philosophy I use with all of my projects which is to design a building with outstanding architecture by coming up with complicated and courageous designs that are simultaneously respectful of the area’s past, preserve its local influences and honor natural landscape.

With the sophisticated design of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach, we created a unique waterfront oasis within a tranquil residential community. Similar to a small Portofino town, it is a community that encompasses serenity, security and beauty. It is a development unlike any other with panoramic views of the calming water and lush gardens, in addition to views of both the Downtown Miami and Miami Beach skyline.

My design approach is quite transparent: to offer a home that is absolutely sophisticated and humanistic because simplicity is the maximum level of complexity.

THE LISSONI INSPIRATION OF LIGHT AND NATURE:

What specific roll did light play when designing the expansive, amenity-rich property?

If you are a traveler and you land for the first time in Miami, the first thing you feel is the quality and significance of the light, which is absolutely special.

When we designed the private villas at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach, as well as the amenity and public areas, our idea was to celebrate the value of the light, using shadows to enhance it. Additionally, the elements of nature, such as water or gardens, played an extremely important part in this project.

Services and experiences have been designed to ensure a great quality of life.

THE CELEBRATION OF LIGHT AND CONNECTING WITH YVETTE MATTERN’S ON THE GLOBAL RAINBOW:

Welcome Yvette to Miami Beach! Let’s talk about what initially intrigued you to light and your extensive journey with the Global Rainbow. We hear it’s coming to The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach soon.

My exploration of light started after I witnessed the most strikingly dramatic and spectacular rainbow crashing through what seemed like apocalyptic clouds hovering over Walden Pond, Massachusetts on January 1, 2007. It was life changing, moving and I was instantly struck by the symbolic significance. For me, its unspoken poetry conveyed a world of positivity and beautiful diversity. I had to find a way to replicate this vision artistically and share its jeweled beauty with the world.

I created the Global Rainbow to literally “paint the sky” with seven simple but distinctly powerful lines of color representing the rainbow’s natural spectrum: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet. It is performative, sculptural, and minimalist that includes a 170 W power laser light projection that remains within parallel horizontal lines to create a natural perspective and horizon arc simulating a rainbow.

Natural rainbows are made of spectrums that are hidden or inherent in daylight. A natural rainbow sighting is unexpected inducing awe and wonderment to the viewer of the ‘magic’ and poetry of ‘nature’. The Global Rainbow illuminates darkness simulating the spectrum of the natural rainbow and induces a similar response unexpected in the night sky.

Presenting it over 16 times since 2009, I wanted to work with a team that appreciates light as much as I do. With Lissoni’s philosophy of light and the structure of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach being a celebration of just that, we are bringing the Global Rainbow to Miami Beach during Art Basel for the public to experience and to share its visual translation of hope and peace.

ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH 2016:

Let’s dive into it! What does the public have to look forward to during the celebrated week of art and design?

Specifically for Art Basel Miami Beach, we wanted the installation to celebrate Lissoni’s philosophy and important connection to Miami’s quality of light – elegant, modest and refined. I was intrigued by his utilization of light as a focus point in his designs at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach and wanted the Global Rainbow to bring this to light, literally, in an entirely new way. For a full-week, we will be projecting high-specification lasers to create an artwork that beams sevens rays of light representing the color spectrum of a natural rainbow.

Launching on Monday, November 28th, the tranquil installation will begin in the Design District atop Lionheart Capital’s office (4218 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137) and transcend over The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach (4701 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140) landing over Biscayne Bay onto the ocean. The rainbow will be highly visible throughout the Design District and over 41st street and along 195, from 6 PM – 12 AM, concluding on Saturday, December 3rd.

Those who will be in town will experience something that is poetic, magical and powerful. Theoretically and symbolically, its presentation encompasses geographical and social diversity in its reach throughout distinct points across the globe. I’m looking forward to having it influence positivity and connect all demographics and ethnicities here in Miami Beach.