FIREFLIES #2 @ ICONOCLASH


Installation: Cinema spotlight (1), light-suppressing (swallowing) device (1), dust from vacuum cleaners, fans (3), 3ccd cam (1), beamer (1), moths (ca. 1.000.000)

As a contribution to the exhibition "ICONOCLASH", Fireflies was presented as a closed-circuit-light-video installation in the Rem Koolhaas Cube of the Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe from May 4th to August 4th 2002. Within the half-open-architecture of the Cube, Achim Mohné installed a modified version of his mobile light-video-installation, which has already been toured through several locations in southern California 2000/2001. The installation projected a beam of light from a highly focused cinema spotlight, whereby the cylindrical beam ended after 10 meters in a matt black parabolic mirror. Dust, drops of liquid, pollen or insects attracted by the light enter the spotlight beam and will be brought to illumination. The microscopic movements in the light beam, whether generated by movement of the air or, in the case of the insects, self-produced, is documented, per video and projected live and greatly enlarged onto a screen. (4 x 6 Meter) During the entire exhibition time approximatly 1 million moths (Sitotroga cerealella) will be hatched. After gaining sexuell maturity, the moths will animate the inside of the lightbeam, searching for a partner. Curated by Peter Weibel