WIND HARP

Concept & Theme

Wind Harp consists of three projections on the facade of the Scheepvaartmuseum plus several strings of Tibetan prayer flags spanned in front of it. Black and white footage of stormy waves conveys both the captivating power of wind and water as well as their danger and destructive might. These natural forces provide the industrialized world with an abundance of mechanical and electrical energy, but, in these times of man-made climate change, they also manifest nature’s warning calls louder than ever. Over the course of the ± 8 min. loop, the black and white waves are then gradually replaced by colorful images of Tibetan prayer flags floating in the wind. These flags are traditionally hung up so that the wind may blow the printed prayers and good wishes out into the world, which is visualized by the flags’ progressive weathering. In answering nature’s call, the flags transform the wind’s force not into electrical or mechanical but mental energy, propagating a fundamental empathy towards all living things. The installation thus aims to amplify the knowledge of indigenous communities in answering the call of nature and invites us to listen and learn. (The flags used are made in Nepal out of 100% cotton and will be handled and reused respecting the Tibetan traditio

Visitor Experience

In the daytime, the strings of flags excite the curiosity of passersby. But in the nighttime, the installation truly comes alive; visitors are engulfed in the overwhelming black-and-white waves that integrate into and reflect upon the actual water below them. This effect is even more intense to visitors on the boat tour, who literally become immersed in the storm as their boat travels through the projection. The moving images of the middle projection overlap with the slide show on the left and right to invoke a mesmerizing liminal state between involvement and contemplation. All the while, the actual prayer flags mounted in front of the projection turn the real force of wind into something visually graspable. As the wave imagery is replaced by colorful prayer flags, the mood shift can be felt immediately. The overwhelming might experienced before now reappears in a different form that allows for respectful reconciliation with forces too large to control. Additionally, the installation is accompanied by a soundtrack by Hermann Bühler, which can be heard on the boat or streamed via smartphone.

The Role of Light

As a professional light artist and scenographer, Daniela Zehnder specializes in the creation of light spaces using projections. In Wind Harp, light takes on a variety of functions. Firstly, the projectors act as light sources that illuminate the historical Scheepvaartmuseum, drawing attention to the installation site and the specific history of encounters with wind and water that it represents. Secondly, the projected image material is in dialogue with the facade, each transforming the other. Thirdly, the installation explores the effect created by the color contrast between the b/w imagery vs. the colorful flag imagery. Fourthly, the moving light in the middle projection stands both in contrast to the still images to the left and right, and in relation to the moving water underneath. Movement is furthermore present in the prayer flags’ flattering and the shadows that they cast, thereby also emphasizing the movement of light through space.

The Technical Principle

Surface_1 and Surface_2 are projected onto with one BP6 Pani-Slideprojector each. Surface_3 will be projected onto with one 20K ansilumen Videoprojector in portrait mode. The projectors can be placed right from the Arcam Building at the Pier (see map). A covered scaffolding tower will be provided, where the projectors and computers will be stored. The Installation will be water- / wind- and weatherproof. It runs automatically without any intervention needed to turn on and off.
Power requirements: 1 x CEE64
The local technical setup will be done by Bart van Bokhoven, Pronorm Eindhoven Audiovisuell Serviceprovision, who have already collaborated with Jonas Staub. Total technical support (installation / projection and tech. construction) by Jonas Staub / Okula AG / Zürich, Switzerland / okula.ch / projektil.ch