Client: Tampa International Airport
Location: Tampa, FL, United States
Completion date: 2023
Artwork budget: $520,000
Project Team
Lead artist
Matthew Mazzotta
Client
Tampa International Airport
Collaborator
Sujin Lim
Collaborator
Stephanie Yeung
Collaborator
Daniel Shieh
Collaborator
Yalun Li
Collaborator
Alayna Davidson
Collaborator
Vaissnavi Shukl
Overview
Flights arrive and depart from Tampa International Airport, full of travelers leaving their homes, returning back home, going to a new home, or simply to a place that feels like home. The concept of “home” is not only for people—Florida is also home to an abundance of wildlife. HOME is a site-specific art installation that gives travelers time and space to take a deeper look at a bird whose image appears across Florida—the flamingo. This floor-to-ceiling immersive installation gives viewers the impression they are underwater with the flamingo as it looks for food. The exaggerated scale of this pink bird transports us into its world and reminds us that we all share the same home.Goals
The scale of HOME is designed to be an exciting experience close up, as well as seen from the many vantage points throughout the entire terminal. The overall effect is one of wonder, contemplation, reflection, and amusement, bringing joy to those passing through the terminal on their way to their destination. Designed as a spectacle to restore the interaction missing from this area of the airport, HOME draws people into this immersive experience, where they will find themselves bathed in changing lights, posing with giant birds, sharing photos, and enjoying being together in this whimsical and otherworldly atmosphere.