Exolon Group: HexaLumina artwork with polycarbonate canopy
Anaisa Franco's permanent HexaLumina installation in Dallas combines organic photovoltaic cells with transparent pink solid polycarbonate sheets supplied by Exolon Group.
HexaLumina, a permanent public artwork by Anaisa Franco at the Singing Hills Recreation Center in Dallas, Texas, combines art, technology and sustainability. The sculptural canopy uses organic photovoltaic cells and transparent pink solid polycarbonate sheets from Exolon Group to create an interplay of light, color and energy. The installation forms part of the City of Dallas public art collection and is conceived as both an outdoor structure and a place where people can gather, play and pause.
Inspired by a tree canopy, the sculpture rises on branching columns. Its structure comprises hexagonal stainless-steel elements incorporating organic solar cells and specially colored, 6 mm Exolon UV solid polycarbonate sheets. The transparency and color of the sheets contribute to the installation's characteristic patterns of light and shadow. UV protection on both sides is intended to improve resistance to long-term environmental exposure and help preserve the material's color and gloss, an important consideration for a permanent outdoor installation.
Material supports technical and artistic functions
"The Exolon polycarbonate sheets play an important role in both the technical implementation and the artistic vision of HexaLumina. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability and creative exploration," says Anaisa Franco.
The solar cells integrated into the installation harvest energy from sunlight during the day. The collected energy is then used to illuminate HexaLumina after dark. By combining energy generation, structural materials and lighting, the installation makes the relationship between material design and renewable energy visible to visitors.
The project illustrates the use of solid polycarbonate sheets in an application beyond their traditional fields. In HexaLumina, the sheets provide transparency, color and outdoor durability while forming part of a sculptural system that incorporates photovoltaic energy generation.