Event 3. Color, Light, Motion. Episode 11: Ann McCoy lecture on OTTO PIENE

 The third event that I attended was Ann McCoy’s lecture on Otto Piene, who was a German artist that was working with kinetic technology and light. He was drafted to the WWII as a gunner when he was only 16 years old. After the war, he founded the Zero Group, which included many artists and became an international movement in the late 50s. Zero group emphasis was on monochromatic paintings, energy, and space, adding elements of time. And we can see that idea in his work Light Ballet, where Otto Piene used a common technique of projecting light through a perforated surface to achieve the huge scale of the tiny dots of light spreading on the surroundings of the space. 

Light Ballet by Otto Piene

It was interesting to me how he managed to use relatively small simple objects to create such wonderful pieces that occupy the whole space. Metallic black spheres, cubes, and triangles create an interesting juxtaposition with the light, tiny dancing dots of light that goes through the bulky geometric figures. I really enjoyed looking at the patterns that the projection created and making references to the universe, Big Bang theory or spirituality. It is fascinating how one piece can create so many different interpretations for people.

Intersections by Anila Quayyum Agha

I also loved the piece that was inspired by Otto Piene’s works called Intersections. The creator is a muslim artist from Pakistan Anila Quayyum Agha. She created a piece that resembles the House of God in Mecca, a sacred place for prayers where women are not allowed to enter culturally. Inspiration for the patterns on the cube was Alhambra, which is an  important architectural ensemble of different cultures both Eastern and Western. Anila was not trying to create the exact replica, but interpretation of the signs that she saw. Strong light shines from inside of the cube casting crisp shadows revealing the beautiful patterns on the walls of the room. The object itself is small, but has a huge effect on the surface encompassing the entire space. I really advise everybody to watch the lecture on Otto Piene and his inspiration on other artists.

Sources:

O'Connor, T. (2017, August 29). What is the Kaaba? A brief history of Islam's holiest site. Newsweek. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.newsweek.com/what-kaaba-holiest-muslim-site-survive-war-rebellion-weather-654932 

Otto Piene and zero (1960s). Light and Shadows. (2015, March 6). Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://ombresetmotifs.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/otto-piene-and-zero-1960s/ 

Otto Piene. Otto Piene - Artists - Sperone Westwater. (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.speronewestwater.com/artists/otto-piene#tab:slideshow 

Otto Piene: Light ballet at Sprüth Magers, Oranienburger St, Berlin. GalleriesNow.net. (2017, April 29). Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.galleriesnow.net/shows/otto-piene-light-ballet/ 

Anila Quayyum Agha: Intersections (2015). Artsy. (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.artsy.net/artwork/anila-quayyum-agha-intersections