Brigitte Kowanz
Lichtwechsel

2002
Existing artwork from the Zumtobel Collection

Brigitte Kowanz (1957 - 2022) was an important Austrian light artist. Known for her sculptures and installations with neon tubes, LED lamps, mirrors and text, the artist became famous for her exploration of the relationship between space and light, real and virtual. By combining light, space and words, she created a new relationship between the inside and the outside.

The installation consists of 15 square light surfaces in different colours. The LED tiles alternate irregularly between "on" and "off". They are programmed to display a Morse code. The displayed term is also the title of the work "Lichtwechsel". The installation thematises light as a carrier of information and as a medium for information systems.

2002
Existing artwork from the Zumtobel Collection

The installation consists of glowing tubes that are blackened. Round and elongated openings can be seen on the front, representing the short and long pulses of Morse code. The installation visualises a quote from Vilém Flusser. The media philosopher pointed out how much the world around us consists of a complex network of signs and codes. The installation thematises the connection between light as an electromagnetic wave and Morse code as the first code of electromagnetic space, telegraphy. Today, digital codes are also transmitted by photons through fibre optic cables.