„I am the Sun“ // VOLNA + TUMO

There is a Japanese proverb that “whoever finds himself is like the sun.” This idea is reflected in the interactive light installation created in collaboration with TUMO and the VOLNA collective. When looking at the installation from a distance, the viewer sees their reflection on a mirrored surface, but as they move closer an unexpected flash of light appears, evoking an emotional response.

This effect is meant to jolt the viewer out of their inner world and provoke in them new insights about themselves and their surroundings. By perceiving connections between themselves and nature, they recognize themselves as a part of it, similar to the sun illuminating everything around it.

The installation consists of 72 light modules that are activated with the help of sensors. In the evening, in addition to its main function it displays an animation that illuminates the bus stop. The name of the project also alludes to the fact that it is powered by solar panels that, as a sustainable source of energy, allow it to create its own light.

The lab was built on the principle of collective scaling and collaborative practices that are at the core of VOLNA’s artistic activities. During the lab, students collaborated with the artists, working through the installation’s creation from beginning to end. This was accompanied by thematic presentations covering intermediate results and a range of topics that would be encountered along the way.

In the first week of workshops, we covered artistic and conceptual design, 3D modeling, programming and researching visualizations, culminating with a presentation of a plan for the project. The second week covered prototyping and testing, 3D printing, working on the program code and culminated in a working prototype. The third week focused on serial production of installation components in the necessary quantity, followed by quality control and resulting in a set of assembled units for the future installation. The final week was dedicated to assembling the installation and setting it up at the permanent exhibition site, culminating with the unveiling of the working installation in TUMO Park on July 22, 2022.