FlashBoxOldenburg

For his FlashBoxOldenburg work, the artist has installed strobe lights on building facades throughout the inner city. These create a calculated visual interference that are in opposition to the simple messages offered by the advertising signs and lights that dominate Oldenburg's pedestrian zone. The work evokes a new, entirely different view of the inner city that is primarily defined by consumption and tourist attractions. The city, however, is also a center of employment and living.

Oldenburg citizens have actively participated in the project by »adopting« the blinking strobe lights and allowing them to be installed on their buildings. This is a clear sign of the commitment by private citizens and their interest in their public spaces. The blinking church steeples, cornices, windows, and building facades have thus become a »mission for the people's inner city«. This mission is a distinct symbol of Oldenburg citizens' identification with their city.

FlashBoxOldenburg is taking place as part of the Jahrhundertschritt 05 anniversary project. It brings together aspects of the dawn of the Modern Age and contemporary developments: the electrification of cities at the beginning of the 20th century was a symbol of progressive urbanization. Designing urban spaces with light first began with the advertising signs on cinemas. Over time, the use of more and more light in major cities such as Moscow, Tokyo and others has also led to a distinct change in the way we perceive public space. It is a phenomenon which an increasing number of artistic projects are addressing.

Mischa Kuball works with light and movement. His works are characterized by fleeting appearances; they are temporary interventions in public spaces. When creating his complex choreographies of light, the artist is always interested in the way a particular public space is defined: familiar places are structured anew; forgotten spaces are recalled; new spaces are designed. The artist's clear, minimalist language of form is never merely aesthetic. It is also always instilled with social codes. Light is thus in many cases also used to »illuminate« hidden implications, so that they can be »brought to light« in public.

The Edith Russ Site for Media Art and the Oldenburg Kunstverein have been integrated into the project and turned into »flashing bodies«. The spaces in the buildings are covered in aluminium foil. Eight large strobe lights flash on and off during the evening and night hours. Other events will also be taking place during this time.

Mischa Kuball is also presenting two other works at the Edith Russ Site for Media Art: the slide show installation entitled »FlashPlanetOldenburg« from 2005 and the film »AntiKino« (Anti-Cinema) from 1999.