SKALAR is a large-scale art installation that explores the complex impact of light and sound on human perception. Created by light artist Christopher Bauder and musician Kangding Ray, this monumental artwork is a reflection on the fundamental nature and essence of human emotions. By combining a vast array of kinetic mirrors and perfectly synchronized moving lights with a sophisticated multi-channel sound system, SKALAR offers an audio-visual narration of radiant light vector drawings and multi-dimensional sound in enormous pitch-dark spaces.
SKALAR is an intense journey through the cycle of basic human emotions. Ever-changing tonalities trigger the full spectrum of emotional experiences using light, sound, and motion. The feelings of awe, surprise, exhilaration, and anticipation of having one’s senses overwhelmed are created, explored, and repeated in cycles throughout the piece, providing a collective, yet highly individual emotional experience.Light and darkness as endless cycles of day and night define our perception of time and influence our emotions. SKALAR is a central piece within light artist Christopher Bauder’s body of work, reflecting his deep fascination with light. In this gigantic installation, light is treated as a solid material that can be dimensionally sculpted and shaped, evoking abstract emotional associations. Intertwined with the tireless exploration of textures, rhythm, and sound design by musician and composer Kangding Ray, the silence of darkness is filled with iridescent forms of spatial light and sound.
The concept of SKALAR is based on Robert Plutchik’s psychoevolutionary theory of eight primary emotions: anger, fear, sadness, disgust, surprise, anticipation, trust, and joy. The combination of moving mirrors, a changing color palette, and the profound sound of SKALAR triggers sensory and psychological reactions, offering a truly innovative way to experience and feel art.Experience the two exciting sides of SKALAR: exhibition and live performance.
The exhibition runs continuously with no specific beginning or end. It is arranged in a meditative layout, encouraging visitors to stay for an indefinite time, walk around, sit or lay down on the floor, and drift as far away as possible from everyday life and the outside world.
As a special highlight, Christopher Bauder and Kangding Ray also present exclusive SKALAR live performances — an expanded and intensified version of the animation cycle. The artists bring choreographed light and electronic music to life in real-time. Every live show is a unique experience.
In a live performance, the artists interpret eight basic emotions as opposed to four presented in the daily cycle of the exhibition. The live shows have a defined duration and a dramaturgic development with alternating ambient and beat-driven sections. It's a tribute to a concert setting with a defined start and endpoint. The connection between beats and performative visuals play a more dominant role when Christopher Bauder and Kangding Ray play with light and sound in real-time. No performance is like the other.
SKALAR is made possible by the collaborative effort of the technical partners whose extensive expertise helped to extend the limits of this complex, cross-media installation. The art and design studioWHITEvoidmanages the production and provides custom software development,KINETIC LIGHTSoffers its high-performance precision motor winch systems, and ROBE lighting provides the highest quality in moving light technology.
