Lichtspiel by Zalán Szakács

“Lichtspiel” engages with the water-flooded basement of Koelhuis Eindhoven through light, haze, and sound. “Lichtspiel” interprets unrealised machine drawings from the 17th century through contemporary technologies. During this shifting period between the mystical time of alchemy and the scientific inventions of the Enlightenment, machines, and instruments were not only seen as functional and technical objects but also carried metaphorical narratives. 

Inspired by the writings of the Jesuit scholar Athanasius Kircher, Szakács guides the public through the shifting environment of the underworld. They become part of the work as their shadows form on the walls while they move through the space. By combining various kaleidoscopic lenses with a kinetic motor, the spectators find themselves in a configuration of mysticism and technology.

https://www.zalan-szakacs.com/