At Milan Design Week 2025, held from April 7–13 at the Salone del Mobile, Google collaborated with artist Lachlan Turczan to present “Making the Invisible Visible,” an immersive installation showcasing Lucida (I–VI). Part of Turczan’s Veil Series, this artwork transformed light into seemingly solid forms, creating a space where the intangible felt touchable. Visitors entered a misty, darkened room to engage with luminous veils that shifted and responded, merging art, technology, and perception.
The Installation
Housed in a dedicated pavilion, Lucida (I–VI) (2025) featured six ceiling-suspended fixtures made of lasers, acrylic, stainless steel, infrared cameras, proprietary software, and speakers. Turczan designed these to project focused light beams downward, which fine mist captured to form glowing, curtain-like shapes. The effect made light appear as a tangible, almost solid medium.
Infrared cameras and sensors tracked visitors’ movements, prompting the light curtains to bend, flow, or form structured planes. These changes, paired with subtle sound effects, created a dynamic, interactive experience. The installation blurred the boundaries between energy and matter, with light serving as the very structure of the space.
Artistic Vision and Collaboration
Turczan conceived Lucida as a glimpse into a future where energy rather than mass defines form. “I explore how light, water, and sound—forces we often take for granted—can feel real,” he explained. Inspired by physics, optics, and his Southern California upbringing, Turczan dedicated a year to prototyping. Witnessing all six units together in Milan for the first time was “a dream come true.”
Google, continuing its Milan Design Week legacy following the 2023 water themed project with Turczan and the 2024 synesthesia focused Chromasonic collaboration, aimed to showcase art and design as transformative. Ivy Ross, Google’s Chief Design Officer of Consumer Devices, praised the installation’s interactivity: “You move, hear sounds, and watch the shapes shift. It’s enchanting.” She emphasized Google’s dedication to innovative experiences.
Visitor Experience
Approximately 10,000 visitors explored Lucida (I–VI), many playfully dancing under the beams to test their responsiveness. The installation’s ability to make light feel solid inspired awe. “It’s like touching something that isn’t there,” one visitor remarked, capturing the work’s power to awaken new ways of seeing.
Looking Forward
Lucida (I–VI) fused technology and art to redefine light as a palpable medium. Created exclusively for Milan Design Week, its influence may spark future projects by Turczan and Google. For now, it stands as a testament to curiosity and collaboration, transforming the invisible into an unforgettable eternity.