STUDIO:HILDEBRAND

Idea

 

The worlds population doubled two times in the last century. Former third world countries are taking part in the benefits of progress and prosperity. Resources are getting smaller and precious, equally in land, food, water, air or minerals. Humankind grew into a giant. But not only in respect of number. Humankind is a Titan in science, culture or economy if you look at the positive side. But at the other side of the medal we are a Colossus in exploitation and destruction.

 

De Reus is addressing these issues. The sculpture is related to the Greek, Germanic and Buddhist heritage with its powerful gods and giants, like Mars, Shiva or Hercules, who can be beneficent but also destructive. We all live in this conflict of choices and options. In this installation the giant is sleeping. What is he dreaming about? Is it a sleep of reason, that bears nightmares like in the famous etching of Goya? Is he Hercules who rescued the world from suffer or is he the giant eating his people, like in another painting from Goya? Or is just lulled into sweet memories of innocent childhood?

 

Sculpture

 

White neon tubes in 20 segments form a gigantic 12m long three dimensional reclining figure in the Tschumi Pavilion. As a counterpart a three dimensional globe with a diameter of 2m made also from white neon is positioned in the Bioscoop cinema across the Hereplein. Both elements are animated and combined with sound. They form a dialogue as a smooth interplay in two beats.

 

Two Beats

 

In the first beat the ‘Gigant’ in the pavilion lights up and illuminates its surrounding in a strong white light. In a parallel movement the globe in the cinema foyer dims down. The passer-by hears the sound of a deeply breathing man inhaling air in the lunge.

 

In the second beat the ‘Gigant’ dims slowly down while the globe lights up to a bright light that can be seen from across the pavilion. The pedestrians will hear each time a different sound related to an important social, political, economic or emotional subject. For example the sound of a marketplace in Africa, robots in a factory, voices at a wedding, machine guns, ethnic music and so on.

 

With 100 cycles in total the whole loop of the accompanying sound takes in the end 30 minutes.

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01.02. - 01.05.2011

 

DETAILS

 

neon systems, ballast, steering, sound, wireless control

all neon systems: clear glass, white fluorescent, 22mm diameter, 50mA current

 

GIGANT

 

130m neon tubes

45 systems / 5 x 8kV

11.4m x 2.8m x 1.4m

 

GLOBE

 

36m neon-tubes

12 systems / 2 x 8kV

2.2m x2.2m x 2.2m