m8saik
Essen Light Festival 2022
Allbau GmbH – Essen | De
the power of community and the importance of hands-on learning in the arts
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 colors 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.
THE URBAN SPACE
The Allbau headquarters in Essen served several times as the canvas for light installations during the festival. Characterized by modern and rational aesthetics, the building’s architecture offers an optimal backdrop for a lively 8-bit adventure. Smoothly merging its polished geometry with the mapping of “M8saiK,” the façade gradually transforms into a large-scale game board.
CREDITS
Art Director – Artist Workshop Leading
Production Assistant – Tutor – Animation
Tutor – Animation
Soundtrack
Art Director – Artist Workshop Leading Luca Pulvirenti
Production Assistant – Animation Cristina Santangelo
Animation Fabiola Spatola
Soundtrack
Luca Pulvirenti
Cristina Santangelo
Fabiola Spatola
Luminous Pixels – Composed by Jens Kiilstofte