It is a light source that exposes the inner workings of the technology behind it, allowing a peek into its intricate design. The exoskeleton covers the entire inflated shape, where each thin metal rod folds into a bow that holds one light. A swarm of over 500 lights gives the illusion that the inflated shape floats within this structure creating a warm reflective aura. Commissioned by the concert hall Mezz in Breda, Aura lives and floats 4 meters high, welcoming visitors in the new lobby.
For Theater Aan de Slinger in Houten, Toer created a swirling light installation. A flock of 500 light elements fill the air in a playful flock formation.
For the MUDAM Museum in Luxembourg, Toer designed an autonomous sunshade. Under the glass ceiling of the Henry J. and Erna D. Leir Pavilion, above a wooden deck by Konstantin Grcic, hangs an artificial cloud. At the top a solar panel collects energy. The energy is used to inflate a series of balloons. In about two minutes the space is filled with a cloud. It provides a shade for the people in the pavilion.
The autonomous character of the project gives the installation a feeling of a living organism responding to its surrounding. This project brings liveliness to the space and at the same time protects you from the sun.
from Mudam.lu : Mudam is the foremost museum dedicated to contemporary art in Luxembourg, and strives to be attentive to every discipline and open to the whole world. Its collection and programme reflect current artistic trends and appreciate the emergence of new artistic practices on a national and international scale.
About The building
from Mudam.lu : The building, by famous Sino-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei, is a marvellous dialogue between the natural and historical environment. Standing against the vestiges of Fort Thüngen, it follows the course of the former surrounding walls, and is rooted in the Park Dräi Eechelen (planned by landscapist, Michel Desvigne) which offers magnificent views onto the old town just a short walk from the European district of Kirchberg.
Set back from the building is a small octagonal construction – the Henry J. and Erna D. Leir Pavilion – linked by a transparent footbridge. This pavilion is surmounted by a glass-structure with a bell-turret and gives another view over the “Park Dräi Eechelen”.
Firefly Field at Vivid Sydney
What is the collective noun for a group of fireflies? A swarm seems too beastly. A lantern? A twinkle? A shimmer of fireflies?
Firefly Field is a mesmerising installation of 500 flying light points that simulate the movements these nocturnal lampyridae. Glowing. Darting. Hovering above the ground. The ever-changing bioluminescence of each one is reflected in the grassy slope. Firefly light is usually intermittent, and flashes in patterns that are unique to each species. Each blinking pattern is an optical signal that helps fireflies find potential mates. On mass, they create a dynamic light scene that triggers visitors’ curiosity and awe.
With Firefly Field, Dutch artists Toer share their fascination for the aesthetics and movement of these tiny winged creatures, and their interest in the way dynamic moving light can express a mood. This minimalist arrangement consists of LED light points housed in transparent capsules supported on superfine, barely visible steel rods that flex and spring with the weight of the pod, giving each firefly its unpredictable and natural movement.
For more info about the online impact of Firefly Field visit: www.vividsydney.com/blog/2019-top-10-most-instagrammed-vivid-sydney-light-installations
