Beneath the painted splendour of the Old Royal Naval College’s ceiling, Melek Zeynep Bulut’s Duo stands as a luminous passageway. Composed of hundreds of suspended translucent cubes, it forms a glowing tunnel that invites you to step inside and see the historic hall from a new perspective.

From the entrance, Duo appears as a solid block of light. Yet as you approach, it reveals its airy structure, letting the architecture and baroque paintings filter through. The installation feels both futuristic and timeless, balancing the precision of its geometry with the softness of its glow.

Walking through it becomes a quiet, personal journey. Light shifts with your movement, casting gentle patterns across the floor. The ornate ceiling above is reframed by the grid, as if the 18th century and the present moment are momentarily in conversation. In this space, history is not just observed—it is experienced anew.

Midway through, there’s a stillness. The hum of the outside world fades, and the Painted Hall feels transformed. Emerging from the other side, you realise Duo has done something subtle yet powerful: it has changed the way you look at what has always been there.

All photos © Zeynep San