Sunset on the grand canal


Within the stunning setting of the Sina Centurion Palace, a five-star luxury hotel by Sina Hotels overlooking the Grand Canal, which hosts private parties, exclusive events, and vernissages for the Hollywood and Italian jet set during the Venice Film Festival, my sensory project came to life in collaboration with design studios Mandalaki and CELO1. “Sunset on the Grand Canal” is an immersive journey into the world of light and its reflections and is a gift with which the Sina Centurion Palace has honored Venice during the highly anticipated days of the red carpet: starting from Wednesday, August 28, and throughout the festival evenings, the hotel’s historic facade became the stage for an “urban sunset” (a light installation designed by Mandalaki studio) that stood against the night sky of the Serenissima, inviting spectators to reflect on the complex relationship between the urban environment and the natural world and how our actions may impact the surrounding environment. At the heart of the sunset, humanity finds itself mirrored, catching glimpses of new worlds within and around itself. How? Through the work “Inevitable Future.” The large mirror, created by CELO1 design studio, was placed in the hotel’s scenic hall to engage with the guests’ intimacy and to evoke the wonder of a sunset in the choices each of them makes in their daily lives. Thanks to the circular ink frame that defines the piece and its transparent center, the mirror enabled beautiful portraits and interviews with invited guests, shared on social media with the hashtag

The work “Inevitable Future” by CELO1 is a large mirror (160 cm dia. x 2 cm) comprising three zones: an outer ring reflecting the surroundings, followed by a dark inner ring that absorbs everything visible, and a central area made of transparent glass. This work is an analogy of an “Event Horizon” that invites us to perceive the object not only as a physical mirror but also as a means to question and explore our individuality and our relationship with the world around us. The materials used in the piece are glass, mirror, ink, and stainless steel. The mirror rests on a base allowing the public to walk around it and place their face in the center of the piece, where the circular ink frame on the mirrored surface frames their expression. “Inevitable Future” thus acts as a mirror with a twist: instead of reflecting the image of whoever stands before it, it serves as a portal revealing what lies beyond its surface. The piece continues to intrigue even without protagonists, for when no one is positioned behind it, the transparent center of the work behaves like a lens, offering those who look through it a unique, evocative view of the Grand Canal from the splendid loggia of the Sina Centurion Palace. In essence, it is a work within a work.

“Mirrors are not just simple reflections of our outward appearance; they are also portals inviting us to explore our inner world. In an era where people increasingly seek a sense of connection with themselves and their surroundings, mirrors take on a central role. They offer us a window through which we can contemplate our identity, reflect on our past, and design our future.” — CELO1

The “Sunset on the Grand Canal” Light Installation by Mandalaki. The light of Venice has fascinated and inspired countless artists over the centuries, from Canaletto to Turner, Monet to Whistler. These masters sought to capture the unique quality of Venetian light in their paintings, reflecting off the canal waters and giving the city an ethereal, enchanting atmosphere. The installation follows in this artistic tradition, with designers using modern technology to evoke the magical essence of the golden hour, weaving it into the urban fabric by projecting the colors and shades of a sunset onto the facade of the Sina Centurion Palace on the Grand Canal. The projection recreates the warm, enveloping tones of a sunset, harmonizing with the architecture and water—an element that lends dynamism to the work through its reflections and ripples. The result is a surreal and enchanting scene that, each evening of the Festival from 8:30 pm, envelops the famous landing on the Grand Canal at the Sina Centurion Palace, where the most renowned international jet-set figures are expected. The installation structure is intentionally minimalist and nearly imperceptible, featuring a carbon fiber stem, thin and light, supporting the optical body made of anodized aluminum and glass. The intervention is extremely minimal and respectful of the urban and architectural context. “Sunset on the Grand Canal” is not merely an artistic intervention but a manifesto for sustainable urbanization and the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature, stimulating reflections and dialogues that can inspire concrete actions to create more sustainable urban environments.

The designers

CELO1 is a design studio operating in both Italy and the UK, focusing on creating objects and installations that interact with viewers and surrounding spaces. Through reflective materials like glass and mirrors, viewers can alter their reflected image in new and unexpected ways, bridging the gap between perception and reality. CELO1 uses a methodology where chosen pigments change tone and form depending on the angle of light (natural or artificial) and the observer’s position. In this way, the object constantly evolves, creating a dynamic dialogue with the viewer. In an era where industrial homogenization threatens the authenticity of local craftsmanship, CELO1 is committed to preserving and promoting artisanal traditions: the studio works closely with local artisans, custodians of ancient techniques passed down through generations, to create unique pieces that embody the essence of Italian craftsmanship.

MANDALAKI is a Product Design and Consultancy Studio founded in Milan in 2012 by Enrico De Lotto, George Kolliopoulos, and Giovanni Senin, with Davide Giovannardi joining as a partner in 2013. Mandalaki explores the boundaries and intersections of design, art, and technology to create high-quality, conceptually rich pieces through an innovative approach combining industrial processes and artisanal knowledge. In recent years, Mandalaki studio has focused primarily on extensive research into the nature and characteristics of lighting; this gave rise to the Halo project, aiming to transcend the perception of light as a mere functional source by experimenting with and producing precise graphic projections. This work establishes a union between two entities—the physical object and the metaphysical projection. The result is a new family of lamps designed for diverse spaces, capable of creating infinite shades, sources of new energy to lose oneself in.

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A click captures the faces and emotions of guests at the Sina Centurion Palace as they discover the Mandalaki studio’s light installation or emerge with surprise in the center of the large ink frame of CELO1’s mirror. Under the intense spotlight of these days, “Sunset on the Grand Canal” becomes a refined cinematic set, showcasing the spontaneous emotions of each of us and transforming them into works of art.