karolina halatek presents large-scale spiral installation of mist and light for lancôme

Ascent is a five-meter-high spiral installation of mist and light

In July 2025, artist Karolina Halatek presented Ascent in Qingdao as part of Lancôme’s Voyage of the Rose program. The five-meter-high installation is composed of a spiral of mist and light, creating an immersive, site-specific environment.

The work investigates the interplay of light and atmosphere through a spatial structure that integrates optical and environmental effects. Mist and illumination combine to form shifting visual conditions, placing visitors within an altered perceptual field. The installation references microscopic observations, electromagnetic wave behavior, and atmospheric dynamics, while also addressing themes of transformation and continuity.

all images courtesy of Lancôme unless stated otherwise

Karolina Halatek’s installation interprets Lancôme’s emblem

Halatek is a Polish visual artist whose practice centers on large-scale light installations and immersive environments. Her projects frequently involve collaborations with scientists and engineers to achieve technically complex results. Her work has been presented internationally across Europe, the USA, the Middle East, and Asia.

Ascent was created and produced in collaboration with Somexing Artistic Agency for Lancôme’s Voyage of the Rose, an initiative that commissioned four international artists to interpret the brand’s Absolue Rose emblem. Each installation combined art, science, and sustainable design within temporary spaces across China. The series included: Garden of Everything by Juju Wang in Wuhan (April), Ascent by Karolina Halatek in Qingdao (July), Birth of an Icon by Casey Curran in Chengdu (August), and A Gift from Eternal Rose by Daigo Daikoku in Shenzhen (August).

Ascent by Karolina Halatek rises five meters in Qingdao | image courtesy of Karolina Halatek

a spiral of mist and light defines the installation | image courtesy of Karolina Halatek

shifting light conditions alter visitors’ perception | image courtesy of Karolina Halatek

inspired by microscopic observations and electromagnetic waves

the work balances technical precision and spatial impact

Ascent was presented for Lancôme’s Voyage of the Rose

Ascent interprets the Absolue Rose, Lancôme’s emblem of regeneration

project info:

name: Ascent
artist: Karolina Halatek | @karolinahalatek

location: Qingdao, China

exhibition: Voyage of the Rose

client: Lancôme | @lancomeofficial

agency: Somexing Artistic | @somexing_

curators: Isabelle Gavalda & Lucille Enel

artistic liaison: Lavinia Diniz Freitas