As part of the London Design Festival 2024, The Sun, My Heart by Marjan van Aubel transformed the New Wing of Somerset House into an immersive world of light and sound. This temporary exhibition, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, was one of LDF24’s official Landmark Projects, showcasing how sustainability, design, and technology can converge to reimagine our relationship with the Sun.

Designed in collaboration with Graypants. Sunne is a self-powering solar light created to hang in a window, harvesting energy during the day and bringing atmospheric light at night. Its curved form, inspired by the horizon, embodies the natural rhythm of daylight with three distinct modes-sunrise, sunlight, and sunset. More than just functional, Sunne demonstrates how solar technology can become a everyday object, reminding us of the beauty and potential of harnessing the sun’s energy.

Suspended in space, the 77 Sunne lights collectively evoked the Sun’s daily journey. Over the course of 8 minutes 20 seconds—the time it takes for sunlight to reach Earth—the installation transitioned through the solar cycle, filling the room with shifting patterns of colour and light.

The experience was deepened by a carefully composed soundscape based on NASA’s recordings of the Sun’s natural vibrations, designed to stimulate the brain’s theta waves, associated with meditation and deep relaxation. A tactile sensor invited visitors to interact directly with the work, triggering a personalised “sun experience” where light responded uniquely to each touch—synchronising human connection with solar rhythms.

Van Aubel’s vision goes beyond aesthetics. By creating beauty that resonates emotionally, she challenges us to imagine a solar-powered future, one where design inspires meaningful change. “The Sun is something holistic; we can feel it. We need beauty and design to make us want to change things. We need to feel it inside.”