Integration of science and mythology
THEMIS – Merlin Place, Cambridge
THEMIS is a landmark rooftop artwork at Merlin Place, Cambridge, created by British visual artist Esther Rolinson. Combining hand-drawn imagery, sculptural light, and digital animation, the 30-metre LED installation reflects Kadans Science Partner’s ambition to create places where science, creativity and technology come together.
About the artwork and its creator
Situated on the rooftop of Merlin Place, THEMIS combines advanced visual technology with hand-drawn imagery animated into evolving sequences. Designed and created by Esther Rolinson, the 30 metre LED structure reimagines the elements – fire, earth, wind, and water – through a sculptural light display. The work further establishes Merlin Place as a landmark within the Cambridge landscape, and reflects the development’s ambition to bring together science, art and technology
Esther Rolinson is a British visual artist whose work brings together new media technology, traditional drawing and sculpture. Her installations invite viewers to take part in the artistic experience in both every day and gallery environments. Light is central to her art because of its immediacy and its ability to engage the senses.
Rolinson’s designs begin with drawings by hand, which are then extended into three dimensions and translated into programmed light movements. The bridges the gap between digital and analogue, placing simple manual techniques alongside advanced digital solutions.
THEMIS
THEMIS began with the simple question: “what is balance?”. Considering the dynamic conditions of the planet and Rolinson’s series of hand-drawn images started by exploring the interconnectivity of the elements, and the role of balance within our environment.
Rolinson worked alongside Merlin Place architects, HOK, and architectural lighting company, The LightLab, to develop the physical LED design, and led a team expert animators including Anke Schiemann and Ian Craig to generate animations from over 250 images, producing hundreds of short clips. To programme the artwork, she partnered with artist-programmer Dr Sean Clark to specify the series of rules that formed the intricate system behind the work. The resulting project explores the use of refined human gesture with advanced technology in a systems-based installation that continually transforms.
About Merlin Place:
Merlin Place is a new, purpose-built laboratory, office and technical workspace in Cambridge North, created for organisations across life sciences, health, engineering, biology, quantum technologies, semiconductors, advanced materials, AI and technical R&D.
Positioned between Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge Business Park and St John’s Innovation Campus, Merlin Place sits at the heart of one Europe’s most established clusters for science, technology, and innovation.
Want to find out more about Merlin Place?
