The mirrored gold installation by Moradavaga forms a moving herd
ALMADRAVA is a specific location installation with Moradavagacreated for the 2026 edition of the Mar Motto festival in Faro, Portugal. Located in a former beer factory near the Ria Formosa Natural Park, the project interprets the spatial and cultural context through a kinetic system that responds to environmental conditions.
The installation refers to the historic practice of tuna fishing in the Algarve, particularly the almadraba technique, which uses a network of nets to guide the fish in a controlled path. This logic is translated into a suspended composition of interconnected elements, forming a spatial field that suggests both movement and entanglement.
The work consists of numerous mirrors, gold-highlighted fragments arranged to refer to a school of Atlantic bluefin tuna. These elements float within the structure, where they respond to changing conditions such as sunlight, wind and weather. Their reflective surfaces create changing patterns of light and shadow, creating an ever-evolving visual environment during day and night.
from above, the piece reveals the unity of the whole | all images courtesy of Moradavaga
reusable components are transformed into a floating spatial installation
Instead of replicating the original fishing process, the ALMADRAVA installation by Moradavaga Studio reinterprets its spatial characteristics. The suspended forms act as a visual marker at the entrance of the festival site, guiding visitors towards the exhibition spaces and establishing a point of orientation within the industrial environment.
The project also incorporates elements from Moradavaga’s previous works, including Sunwheel (2016) and Wishwall (2024). These elements are reassembled into a new configuration, aligning the installation with wider themes of material reuse, environmental awareness and the cultural significance of maritime practices in the region.
each symbolic tone mimics the scale of its real-life counterpart
hovering above the ground, the whole depicts a small school of tuna swimming
sparkling golden pixelated fish figures cast endless shadows and water-like reflections
