LAPS: Pink Sand Installation Unveiled In Hamilton
The City of Hamilton has unveiled LAPS: Pink Sand, an interactive public art installation in Queen Elizabeth Park that reimagines the hourglass and invites the public to pause, reflect, and engage with time through a uniquely Bermudian lens.
A spokesperson said, “The City of Hamilton today unveiled its latest public art installation, LAPS: Pink Sand—a captivating sculpture that invites the public to interact with and reimagine time.
“Installed just inside Queen Elizabeth Park, beside the historic Perot Post Office, the artwork will rotate locations periodically throughout Hamilton to activate new spaces and keep the experience fresh and dynamic.
“Unveiled by Acting Mayor John Harvey, LAPS is a modern reimagining of the hourglass—a tool that has measured moments across centuries. The installation offers a playful yet profound invitation to pause, engage, and reflect.”
“Public art should spark curiosity, conversation, and connection,” said the Acting Mayor. “LAPS: Pink Sand brings all of that and more—it’s interactive, meaningful, with a uniquely Bermudian flair. This installation reflects the City’s commitment to making Hamilton a vibrant, inclusive, and ever-evolving cultural hub.”
A spokesperson added, “Created by Olivier Landreville in collaboration with visual artist RiverJune [Julia Derdour] and produced by Init, LAPS is equipped with a steering wheel that controls the flow of vibrant pink balls through the transparent columns—a nod to Bermuda’s iconic pink sand.
“LAPS: Pink Sand represents a unique opportunity to bring an internationally celebrated installation—which has visited major cities such as Denver, Ottawa, Houston, Delray Beach, Minneapolis and Liverpool—to Hamilton for the first time. By joining this global series, the City brings international recognition to our public spaces while adding a Bermudian twist through the signature pink sand theme.”
“LAPS was conceptualized as a physical and sensory response to the fast pace of modern life,” said Jessica Astwood, the City’s Director of Marketing and Communications. “We wanted to create something that invited people to slow down, engage with their surroundings, and feel present in the moment. The ‘Pink Sand’ variation adds a distinct Bermudian signature, linking this international artwork to our local environment.”
A spokesperson added, “Designed with a 2D monochrome sketch aesthetic, LAPS: Pink Sand balances industrial design with artistic nuance, encouraging visitors to interact and personalize their experience.”
“LAPS is about reclaiming our relationship with time,” said creator Olivier Landreville. “It’s an invitation to play, to breathe, to notice. The moment you take the wheel, the rhythm becomes yours.”
A spokesperson added, “Originally presented in Montreal in 2022, this is the first time LAPS has been customized for Bermuda. It forms part of the City’s VIVID Public Art Initiative, which has added over 20 original artworks to Hamilton’s streets and parks. LAPS will now be included in the City Art Tour, a self-guided walking tour that celebrates Hamilton’s public art. Tour brochures are available for free at City Hall or online at www.cityofhamilton.bm.
“As part of this local adaptation, the City’s Public Affairs Manager Helen Zoellner composed an original poem inspired by the installation and its themes. The poem, displayed near the sculpture, adds an additional layer of reflection and ties the piece more deeply to Bermuda’s identity:
When the Last Grain Falls
Grains upon these island shores, suspended between land and sea, held in the hands of the wind and waves, falling, shifting, shaping are we.
Pink as the dawn, soft as the swell, we slip, we shift, we rise, we fall. The waves may claim, the winds may call, yet still, we endure, through it all.
We shape the land, we chart the deep, but time moves on; it does not sleep. No voice can call it, no hands can stay, no force can hold its course at bay.
Yet here, for a breath, the tide is still, the turning sands bend to your will. Spin the glass, let moments flow, pause, reflect, then let them go.
But when the last grain falls, when your hour on earth is done, may you not have wasted a single one.
“The public is encouraged to visit the installation in person to fully enjoy its immersive one-of-a-kind celebration of time, art, and place.”
Acting Mayor John Harvey said, “Good evening everyone, and thank you for joining us.
“It gives me great pleasure to officially unveil the City of Hamilton’s latest public art installation: LAPS: Pink Sand.
“This captivating work is more than just a sculpture. It’s an experience. A modern reimagining of the hourglass, LAPS invites each of us to pause, to play, and to reflect on the one resource we can’t get more of—time.
“At its heart, LAPS is about reclaiming our relationship with time. In an age when life feels faster than ever, this piece asks us to slow down, to engage with our surroundings, and to be present in the moment.
“This particular variation, Pink Sand, is a tribute to Bermuda itself. The vibrant pink balls that flow through the columns echo our island’s iconic beaches—adding a uniquely Bermudian flair to an internationally celebrated piece of art.
“Designed with a 2D monochrome sketch aesthetic, LAPS: PINK SAND balances industrial design with artistic nuance, encouraging visitors to interact and personalize their experience.
“Created by Olivier Landreville, in collaboration with visual artist RiverJune and produced by Init, LAPS has appeared in cities across the world— Denver, Ottawa, Houston, Delray Beach, Minneapolis and Liverpool—and now, Hamilton joins that distinguished list.
“We’re proud to be the first to debut a Bermudian version of this work, adding our own cultural signature to a global series.
Here at the City, we believe public art should do more than decorate—it should spark curiosity, conversation, and connection.
“LAPS: Pink Sand does all of that and more. It’s interactive, meaningful, and reflects our continued commitment to making Hamilton a vibrant, inclusive, and ever-evolving cultural hub.
“Installed here outside Queen Elizabeth Park, beside the historic Perot Post Office, the artwork will rotate locations periodically throughout Hamilton to activate new spaces and keep the experience fresh and dynamic.
“LAPS is now part of the City’s VIVID Public Art Initiative, which has brought over 20 original artworks to our streets and parks, and it will be included in our City Art Tour—our free, self-guided walking tour celebrating Hamilton’s public art legacy.
“As part of this local adaptation, I’d also like to acknowledge our Public Affairs Manager, Helen Zoellner, who composed an original poem inspired by the themes of this installation. The poem—titled “When the Last Grain Falls”—which I will read for you now, is displayed next to the sculpture, adding an extra layer of reflection that ties the piece even more deeply to our island identity:
When the Last Grain Falls
Grains upon these island shores, suspended between land and sea, held in the hands of the wind and waves, falling, shifting, shaping are we.
Pink as the dawn, soft as the swell, we slip, we shift, we rise, we fall. The waves may claim, the winds may call, yet still, we endure, through it all.
We shape the land, we chart the deep, but time moves on; it does not sleep. No voice can call it, no hands can stay, no force can hold its course at bay.
Yet here, for a breath, the tide is still, the turning sands bend to your will. Spin the glass, let moments flow, pause, reflect, then let them go.
But when the last grain falls, when your hour on earth is done, may you not have wasted a single one.
“On behalf of the City of Hamilton, I invite you all to take a turn at the wheel and —perhaps most importantly—take a moment for yourself.
“Thank you.”
Update: A spokesperson said, “The City of Hamilton’s newest public art installation, LAPS: Pink Sand, is on the move. After its much-anticipated unveiling in Queen Elizabeth Park yesterday, the interactive sculpture has now been relocated to City Hall—bringing its vibrant energy to the heart of Hamilton.
“Originally designed to rotate between key locations in Hamilton as part of the City’s commitment to keeping the experience fresh and engaging, LAPS: Pink Sand was always envisioned as a dynamic installation—activating new spaces and offering residents and visitors fresh perspectives each time.
“While Queen Elizabeth Park provided a beautiful backdrop for its launch, the sculpture has been relocated to the grounds of City Hall a little sooner than planned after officials observed antisocial activity in the park that could compromise the piece’s safety and future enjoyment. Moving it to City Hall helps to ensure the artwork remains protected and available for everyone to experience.”
“This is the beauty of LAPS—it’s designed to travel, to transform every space it touches, and to create moments of connection wherever it goes,” said Jessica Astwood, the City’s Director of Marketing and Communications. “By placing it at City Hall, we’re ensuring even more people can engage with it in a safe, central, and highly visible setting. This installation invites interaction—it’s meant to be touched, explored, and enjoyed by the community. City Hall provides the perfect stage for the next chapter of LAPS: Pink Sand’s journey, and we look forward to seeing it inspire even more moments of reflection and joy.”
The spokesperson said, “LAPS: Pink Sand will remain at City Hall for the coming weeks before continuing its rotation through Hamilton’s streets and parks.
“Created by Olivier Landreville in collaboration with visual artist RiverJune (Julia Derdour), LAPS: Pink Sand is a modern reimagining of the hourglass, allowing visitors to control the flow of vibrant pink balls—a nod to Bermuda’s iconic pink sand—through its transparent columns.
“The work forms part of the City’s VIVID Public Art Initiative and is included in the City Art Tour, a self-guided walking tour that celebrates Hamilton’s growing collection of public art.
“Tour brochures are available free at City Hall or online at www.cityofhamilton.bm.
“The public is encouraged to visit LAPS: Pink Sand in its new location and experience this one-of-a-kind celebration of time, art, and place.”
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