阿爾巴尼亞　地拉那航廈

The permanent installation Terminal in Tirana is an immersive light sculpture by contemporary artist Karolina Halatek in the public space of Tirana. This site-specific installation draws inspiration from the profound recollections of patients experiencing near-death experiences (NDEs), creating thus a space where art, spirituality, and science intersect. Terminal for Tirana offers a contemplative space where visitors can experience a sense of euphoria, peace, and the feeling of transcending physical boundaries.

此裝置為一沉浸式燈光雕塑，靈感取自瀕死患者對過往的深刻回憶，創造出融合藝術、精神與科學的空間，旨在打造可供沉思的場所，使人同時體驗興奮與平靜之情，以及超越物理界限的感受。

Halatek's brilliant sculpture is composed primarily of a single polyethylene cylinder of 6m by 3m diameter, illuminated from within by solar-powered LED neons. This tunnel of light invites visitors to step into an otherworldly experience, reminiscent of those reported in NDEs - a journey through a dark tunnel towards an enveloping, radiant light. The artwork finds its roots in echoing common experiences recorded in the databases of the Near-Death Research Foundation (NDRF), adding a profound exploration of human consciousness and mortality to the stunning visual spectacle. Accessible from both sides the installation, placed as a crown jewel, invites viewers to immerse themselves in the transformative power of light, offering a glimpse into what might lie at the threshold of life. It is a reminder of the eternal continuity in the world of light, urging the audience to reflect on our existence and the universe's boundless mysteries.

該裝置由直徑 6ｘ3 公尺的聚乙烯圓柱體所構成，兩側皆可進入，內部設有太陽能 LED 霓虹燈，使其成為一條光之隧道；當人們漫步其中，強烈的白光將人籠罩，營造猶如靈魂歸天之感受，引領人進入另一世界，繼而窺見生命盡頭的模樣；如此場景亦與瀕死研究基金會記錄中，常見之臨死經歷如出一轍。

Situated at the entrance of the University Hospital Center Mother Teresa, Tirana, the work gains an added layer of significance. The light of the artwork then takes the essence of a lighthouse, guiding wandering souls toward a moment of presence and inner peace. While analyzing the location, the presence of three relevant elements for the site were identified: First, the trees and vegetation already present. Second, the curved wall/door to the north of the site. Third, the pedestrian sidewalk. The landscape on which the artwork is placed presents itself as a playful group of circular shapes of varying sizes, spanning from the curved wall element, until the parking of the hospital to the south, like an archipelago in between a surface of natural grass. The principal aim is to minimize the impact on the surrounding presence of nature, by not only preserving all of the trees, plants, and vegetation already present on the site; but also by adding to the surface of grass-covered space in this small urban environment. The sidewalk is split into two paths: one remaining straightforward and functionally quick through the space, while the other takes a more indirect flow towards encountering the artwork which lies at the center of the site.  By moderately shaping the topography while keeping in mind the ergonomics of the human body, this small space previously used exclusively for transit becomes a possible location for a moment of peace. Removing surrounding clutter and lightly elevating the artwork from the ground gives it a more dominant role in the nearby visual landscape. 

位於地拉那大學特蕾莎修女醫院的入口，其獨特落址處亦為本案增添一層特殊意義；裝置所散發的白色光芒，如同燈塔般，指引並安撫遊蕩的靈魂。此基地植被繁盛且設有人行道，北面佇立著一道圓弧牆體，設計師於此安置數個白色圓柱，並使之成群，自弧牆一路延伸至南面的醫院停車場；散落的圓柱體如草地上的群島，為畫面增添了一股趣味性。人行道則分作兩條，其一為無裝置通道，供人快速通過；另一將與裝置相遇，人們能稍作停留並與之互動。此外，透過移除周圍雜物，並將裝置稍作架高，此項目亦成為該城市景觀的視覺焦點。

Terminal for Tirana presents the possibility of more intimate spaces of pause and intimacy in an urban setting characterized by troublesome moments and difficult emotions. It reaches further than an art installation; it is a meditation on life, death, and the persistence of consciousness, resonating with those contemplating life's fragility and the mysteries beyond.

本項目為繁忙城市打造一片靜謐的樂土，不僅是一座藝術裝置，亦是對生命、死亡和意識之反思，與人們產生共鳴；強調光的永恆，同時使人反思存在的意義，以及宇宙的無窮奧秘。

Artist:  Karolina Halatek

Principal Architects：Apparat Studio

Landscape architect：Elian Stefa

Curator：Adela Demetja 

Managing Institution： Tirana Art Lab – Center for Contemporary Art

Principal Materials： Polythene,．LED．aluminum

Location：Tirana, Albania

Photos：Ilir Tsouko

Text：Karolina Halatek

Collect：Chloe Su

藝術家：卡羅琳娜．哈拉泰克

主要建築師：裝置工作室

景觀建築師：埃利安．斯特法

策展人：阿德拉．德梅賈

管理機構： 地拉那藝術實驗室—當代藝術中心

主要材料：聚乙烯．LED．鋁材

座落位置：阿爾巴尼亞地拉那

影像：伊利爾．措科

文字：卡羅琳娜．哈拉泰克

整理：蘇新婷