news
  • ongoing
    exhibition

    we had the pleasure to co-curate the new MAK Design Lab at the Museum of applied Arts in Vienna. Within the permanent exhibition one can find as well a few of our projects like 'the idea of a tree', 'limited moths' or 'LeveL

    MAK Design Lab

  • dec. 2022
    acquisition

    we are happy that our project 'Access' was acquired by the High Museum of Art, Atlanta.
    thanks a lot.
    The project 'Access' is a set of six drinking glasses, confronting people with the global distribution of clean drinking water.

    High Museum of Art Atlanta

nocturnal cloud

a chandelier that captures the fascination
for nocturnal insects

nocturnal cloud celebrates a moment in nature and captures the magical fascination that insects have on humans. The luminous piece is a further development of the curiosity cloud installation with a new focus on insects that are active during night-time. Delicate mouth-blown glass globes form a rather big chandelier.
Each glass-bulb houses a small nocturnal insect that is normally found in the Swiss-, and Middle European- region. From a distance, all insects are quiet and calm. As visitors approach the installation, the bulbs close to the observers light up and moths and beetles come to life. They start swirling around and fly inside the glass vessels, thus touching the glass and creating a soundscape.  Additionally to the moths and beetles, fireflies are newly introduced to this version of a cloud.
As well activated by the proximity of the audience, the fireflies start to fly, light up and create a glimmer of moving light. Nocturnal cloud creates an engaging atmosphere and questions the interaction between humans and the natural environment.

main image above showing the insects hanging
calmly in the glass globes,
image credit: Leonard Hilzensauer

detail view of the handmade moths in the glass bulbs,
image credit: Leonard Hilzensauer

the installation reacts via sensors in the top to the observer and the insects start to flutter, image credit: Leonard Hilzensauer

activated by the proximity of the audience, all insects start to fly and the fireflies light up and create a glimmer of moving light, image credit: Leonard Hilzensauer

person interacting with the nocturnal cloud, image credit: Leonard Hilzensauer

nocturnal cloud is an interactive piece that invites the audience to walk around the bulbs, observe the flying insects and reflect upon nature at night.

person passing by nocturnal cloud, image credit: Leonard Hilzensauer

detail of lemonia taraxaci – the autumn silkworm moth,
image credit: Leonard Hilzensauer

moodboard for the project

  • material

    mouth-blown glass bulbs by Lobmeyr, metal, cables, steelwire, brass hoods, motors, LEDs, custom made circuit boards, sensors / artificial handcrafted insects made out of: printed and lasercut foil adapted with felt and integrated LEDs for the fire-flies

  • dimensions

    105 x 150cm height between 180 – 260 cm (depending on cable length)

  • electrotechnical development

    Simon Laburda

  • team

    Katharina Mischer, Thomas Traxler, Elisa Polner, Monja Hirscher

  • special thanks to

    J. & L. Lobmeyr for producing the glass bulbs

  • collection

    the chandelier is part of the permanent collection of Mudac