TRANSFORMATOR, the new grand hall on the grounds of DARK MATTER, opens with the spectacular light and sound installation SKALAR by Christopher Bauder and Kangding Ray.
ARTWORK
28 MARCH - 14 SEPTEMBER 2025
SKALAR
Reflections on Light & Sound
First shown in Berlin in 2018, SKALAR has since captivated audiences with international solo exhibitions in Mexico City, Amsterdam, Riyadh, Zurich, and Detroit. Now, this extraordinary work of art returns to Berlin for a limited time.
Photos: Ralph Larmann / 2018 @ Kraftwerk Berlin
Created by Christopher Bauder in collaboration with musician and composer Kangding Ray, the audiovisual artwork combines floating mirrors, perfectly synchronized light, and a multidimensional sound system. The result is an audiovisual narrative of luminous spatial drawings and three-dimensional sounds that explores the complex influence of light and sound on human perception.
SKALAR reflects Bauder's deep fascination with light and its effects. Light and darkness, as endless cycles of day and night, define our sense of time and influence our emotions. In SKALAR, light is transformed as an almost tangible material into architectural sculptures that, despite their abstraction, allow for very personal associations.
The concept of SKALAR is based on Robert Plutchik's psycho-evolutionary theory of the eight primary emotions: anger, fear, sadness, disgust, surprise, anticipation, trust and joy. In a dynamic interplay with Kangding Ray's richly textured music, in which cinematic sound design and abstract rhythms intertwine, dazzling formations of spatial light and sound emerge and dissolve.
The perfectly coordinated interplay of 65 motorized mirrors, 90 spotlights and a multi-channel sound system creates an enormous dynamic light structure 45 meters long, 20 meters wide and 10 meters high. The resulting infinite forms of artistic expression, combined with the synaesthetic sound experience, add a unique new dimension to contemporary art.
Produktion: WHITEvoid & DARK MATTER
Fotos: Ralph Larmann
Video: Till Beckmann / Simon Krahl / Ralph Larmann
Christopher Bauder is a German light and media artist. He creates large-scale art installations and performances that explore the effects of light and sound on human perception and emotionality. In doing so, he consciously leaves the traditional museum framework and uses industrial and historical spaces as authentic stages for his light experiments. His works combine sculpture, space and interaction to create multi-sensory art experiences.
As one of the pioneers, he has been shaping the art genres of "Experience Art" and "Kinetic Light Art" for more than 20 years. International solo exhibitions and projects such as the installation "Lichtgrenze" (Light Limit) on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which inspired millions of visitors, testify to his innovative approach.
Kangding Ray (David Letellier) is an electronic music producer born in France and living in Berlin. Few musicians are able to explore the fusion of techno and experimental music as successfully as Kangding Ray. Since his debut on raster-noton, he has continuously developed his sound, guided by an extraordinary attention to sonic textures and a consistent avant-garde attitude.
From the delicate digital landscapes of his debut to the massive panoramic compositions of his latest releases, Kangding Ray has established himself as one of the most avant-garde producers of his time.
EXHIBITION & LIVE PERFORMANCE
The two fascinating sides of SKALAR:
exhibition and live performance
SKALAR can be experienced in two very different ways. The exhibition invites you to a contemplative and timeless art experience throughout the day. There is no defined beginning or end, the sequence is deliberately meditative. Visitors can linger as long as they like, move freely around the space, sit or lie on the floor and immerse themselves in the atmosphere - far removed from everyday life and the outside world.
The exclusive SKALAR live performances by Christopher Bauder and Kangding Ray offer a unique and ever-changing concert experience with choreographed lighting and electronic music controlled in real time.
The SKALAR live shows present an expanded and intensified version of the animation cycle. Each show interprets all eight basic emotions and is characterised by a dramaturgical development that creates a completely new combination of rhythm and visual performance. The live shows have a specific duration and a dramaturgical progression in which ambient and beat-driven passages alternate. It is a reference to a classical concert setting with a defined beginning and end. The close connection between beats and performative visuals is essential as Christopher Bauder and Kangding Ray experiment with light and sound in real time at the controls.
Through the support of our strong partners we can offer our visitors a unique experience at the highest technical standard.
SUPPORTERS
MEDIA PARTNER
