The Abysses of the Scorching Sun [2018]

In the kinetic light installation ‘The Abysses of the Scorching Sun’ Nicky Assmann examines the passage of time, the finite and the infinite, global warming and the changing climate of our planet. Thinking of the Earth and Sun as perpetuum mobiles, it considers how we humans are part of this earthly existence, processing and sharing feelings of anxiety from the impending ecological apocalypse and how accidental and ephemeral our existence is compared to the cosmos.

The work came about after reading texts by James Lovelock, Timothy Morton and Donna J. Haraway and participating in the Dark Ecology journeys, a three-year art and research project in the Arctic regions of Norway and Russia co-organised by Sonic Acts and derived from the Dark Ecology concept introduced by Timothy Morton. In addition to making several research journeys and artist residencies through different landscapes, experiencing both arid deserts and the melting ice of the sub-arctic region.

The light sculpture, inspired by the early work of light art pioneer Thomas Wilfred, follows the trajectory of the Sun using a sun tracer. Its telescope moves slowly, almost invisibly, throughout the day. The machine is based on the concept of a sundial, but instead of indicating time, it projects light back to the Sun. The light travels through several reflective and diffractive elements before projecting its rays onto the walls of the space. The visuals move throughout the space as the installation follows the sun and are accompanied by a score composed of perpetual drones. 

The different cycles lead to an ever changing prismatic coloured visual output, which, together with the moving wheels and mirror cones, is reminiscent of the eye of a storm: the calm before the chaos, the moment prior to reaching a state of entropy.

Credits

Research & concept: Nicky Assmann

Sound composition: Joris Strijbos

Realisation: Nicky Assmann, Jeroen Molenaar, Spectro Productions, Joris Strijbos, Daan Johan, Dieter Vandoren, Christian Friedrich, Joep de Jong, Joris Rockx

Co-production: Werktank / With support of The Creative Industries Fund NL & The Flemish Government.