Introduction

Founded in 2007, Luftwerk is a collaboration between two artists, Petra Bachmaier and Sean Gallero.

Luftwerk does location-based, “site” artwork, interpreting the history and the unique physical features of the site into the art installation.

Technique

Luftwerk does not focus on one method of light art, but rather has a vast portfolio of light art created through dozens of different means. Projections, cast shadows, sculpture, glasswork, mirror-work, laser art, fluorescence- all of it is utilized in different ways in Luftwerk’s art. Given the variety of mediums, each artwork of Luftwerks’ is distinctly unique from its other works. This is bolstered by Luftwerk’s loyalty to integrating the unique aspects of the location into each art, information such as history and social issues, which are coded into each piece.

Artwork – Color Code

To the left is one of their more famous works, Color Code, displayed in the Cleve Carney Museum of Art, where Luftwerk explores color as a way of expressing emotion. Color Code is meant to display Goethe’s theory of color through nine large colored squares, on which are painted Morse code for “SOS”. In this video, Luftwerk explains their development process.

Concepts and Ideas

The artworks created by Luftwerk aim to integrate as much authenitic personality and encoded information as possible, in a strategic, eye-catching way. According to Luftwerk themselves, “in each project they are interested in the abilities of how light and color can be utilized to shift perception and enhance experience.” Many artworks take an environmentalist standpoint, focusing on conservation, preservation, and public education.  

Artwork – SOLARISE series

Solarise is a series of art installations in Garfield Park Conservatory, a massive conservatorium significantly damaged by a storm in 2011. Luftwerk was commissioned to create art installations throughout the conservatory in order to bring attention to the rehabilitation efforts.
In the background is one piece from this series of installations, Prismatic. Prismatic is actually a performance piece, featuring rotating and extending triangular frames. At night, prismatic rainbows also dance across the ceiling in accompaniment with a musical composition performed using cacti.

Artwork – Fluorescence

On the left, fluorescence, a piece based on the interesting nature of plants, and plant’s perception of light; plants only register two colors, blue, towards which they grow, and red, which influences them to bloom. Playing off this phenomenon, fluorescence casts blue and red light down upon the conservatorium floor. 

Artwork – Portal

On the right, Portal focuses less on conveying information and more on exploring abstracting perspective. A series of mirrors hover above a pool, allowing a new, fractal view of the glass ceiling, water, and plants in the conservatory’s Fern Room.

Artwork – FLOW / Im Fluss

FLOW / Im Fluss is a stunning artwork, projected on tiny mist droplets, depicting through light and pattern the effects of pollution and trash on the river flowing through sister cities Chicago and Hamburg. It is on permanent exhibit at Couch Place Alley, Chicago’s first “green alleyway” – the alleyway was paved with permeable pavement designed to keep pollution from water from draining into the river.

Although the light visualizations seem abstract and arbitrary, the patterns are in fact derived from data regarding the river’s pollution level. In order to make sure the intent of their work came across to their audience, Luftwerk distributed pamphlets explaining the information to viewers.