An ensemble of glowing pixels adorns the Allbau headquarters building in Essen, forming a vibrant mosaic wall on its façade. Showcased during the “Essen Light Festival” 2022, “M8saiK” is a participatory project involving 15 advanced art students from the Stoppenberg Episcopal High School. Shapes and colours blend into a dynamic 8-bit pattern, taking the audience on a retro-futuristic ride.

The reference to 8-bit graphics invokes the nostalgic charm of retro video games and early digital art. Yet, besides tapping into the past, this unique installation propels the structure into an exciting future. In the likeness of an arcade video game, the pixelated screen flickers before the viewer’s eyes, enriched by a volumetric voxel. Tradition and progress, past and present, converge, giving life to a cutting-edge aesthetic experience.

As a collective production designed by a diversified crowd, “M8saik” holds a special place in the realm of art and creativity, where shared and individual experiences intertwine to shape the outcome. Dynamic and inclusive, this approach highlights the significance of connections between individuals and the community in crafting the larger artistic narrative.