stellar showcase
With Springtime in full swing, Asia’s art and design scene was abuzz during Hong Kong’s Hong Kong’s fourth annual premier art fair. Swarovski marked its fourth year of support by welcoming the Art Central goers with a mesmerizing solar-powered exhibit, Cyanometer, by Marjan Van Aubel.
Fluid sky tones and curved shapes draw art-goers in as they enter the main hall. Mounted to the wall, convex geodesic disc power sources enclose innovative technology that harvests sunlight with portable solar cells and thoughtfully cut, light-refracting Swarovski crystals. This is what lights up the nine rings hanging from above. The concept demands viewers to look skywards and consider both the scientific and sensory worlds.
This cues its name – Cyanometer – the invention from 1789 used to measure the color of the sky.
Dutch designer Marjan Van Aubel is behind this solar design. Known for working with innovative materials and technologies, she first made this installation for the Swarovski Designers of the Future award, which rewards conceptually or technologically vanguard art.
She commented, “Swarovski’s dedication to working within the boundaries of innovation and climate change is very important to me, and corresponds well with my focus on blending science with sensory responsiveness to develop aesthetic solutions for the future. The combination of crystal and solar power has the potential to be incredibly beautiful and forward thinking.”
As contemporary art enthusiasts gather on the shores of Victoria Harbour, the importance of energy efficiency and sustainability are center stage by the partnership of Swarovski and the creativity of its finest collaborators.
