The Large Lanterns event aimed to showcase the work of about 60 first year architecture and design students from the University of Tasmania.

Architecture and design lecturer Dr Louise Wallis said the students were working from the theme of David Maynard’s 2010 photography book Beneath the Tamar.

“The lanterns were inspired by the Tamar River, and also geometric shapes,” she said.

Dr Wallis said the aim of the project was to create a lantern that would be functional and float, but also to “provoke and experience through beauty”.

The biggest issue on the night was the wind, which began blowing out the tea candles inside the lanterns.

“The wind has been a bit more than anticipated, but we’re getting through it,” Dr Wallis said.

Students braved the chilly weather to watch on at the Seaport as their lanterns made it into the water.

Though some lanterns unfortunately toppled over into the river, it was still a sight to be seen.

The project to create the lanterns took more than a month for students. They used hollow lenses and computer software in the process.

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