Artist Pilar Zeta has unveiled a striking temporary art installation called "The Observer Effect" on the beach in front of The Shelborne By Proper hotel in Miami. The public artwork, which opened on December 2nd, 2025, features a series of eight large-scale metallic portals that create a dramatic architectural presence along the coastline. The installation is designed to respond directly to its coastal environment while exploring themes of perception and spatial awareness.
The installation consists of eight monumental portals arranged in a rhythmic sequence that creates a perspective corridor leading toward the ocean horizon. Each portal is constructed from stacked geometric volumes that form distinctive arch-like structures, creating a bold contrast against the soft, natural landscape of Miami's shoreline. The arrangement allows for the free movement of people while framing views of the ocean and remaining open to the changing patterns of daylight throughout the day.
The most striking feature of "The Observer Effect" is its iridescent metallic surface coating, which dramatically responds to Miami's ever-changing environmental conditions. The reflective finish transitions from muted gray tones to vibrant chromatic colors as the sun moves across the sky, creating an atmospheric quality that captures even subtle variations in light. This dynamic surface treatment produces shifting color gradients as visitors move through the portal sequence, heightening their awareness of their position in relation to the geometric forms.
During daylight hours, particularly at midday, the installation takes on the appearance of a radiant chromatic field that catches both direct sunlight and softer reflections from Miami's surrounding water and sand. The clear definition of the geometric volumes becomes especially pronounced when strong shadows emphasize their height and the precise spacing between each portal element. The clarity of the forms creates a striking visual impact against the open beach landscape.
As evening approaches, the installation undergoes a remarkable transformation, shifting into a more unified and intimate environment. Under evening lighting conditions, the reflective surfaces produce a quiet, ambient glow that creates a focused atmosphere around the portal sequence. This dramatic shift between daytime and nighttime conditions allows the installation to function as both a passageway for movement and a temporary landmark that defines the beachfront space.
Miami's unique beachfront context plays an essential role in the artwork's visual impact and transformation capabilities. The open horizon of the Atlantic Ocean accentuates the structure's silhouette while providing the perfect backdrop for the installation's capacity for color modulation. The coastal setting enhances the work's ability to capture and reflect the changing light conditions that are characteristic of South Florida's dynamic weather patterns.
According to Pilar Zeta, the installation represents an exploration of how human perception influences our experience of built space and architectural environments. The careful arrangement and spacing of the eight portals reinforces this conceptual approach by encouraging steady, contemplative movement through the colonnade while avoiding any sense of enclosure or confinement. The design maintains a direct and unobstructed connection to the beach environment, allowing visitors to experience both the artwork and the natural setting simultaneously.
Rather than relying on symbolic gestures or representational elements, "The Observer Effect" uses precise proportion, rhythmic repetition, and material precision to foreground the physical experience of passage through space. The installation aligns with its title by prompting visitors to consider how the very act of looking and moving through space shapes their understanding and experience of the artwork, creating a heightened awareness of the relationship between observer and observed.
