top of page
Created by light artist Christopher Bauder and musician Kangding Ray, this monumental artwork is a reflection on the fundamental nature and essence of human emotions.

SKALAR

Reflections on Light and Sound

SKALAR is a large-scale art installation that explores the complex impact of light and sound on human perception. Created by light artist Christopher Bauder and musician Kangding Ray, this monumental artwork is a reflection on the fundamental nature and essence of human emotions.

By combining a vast array of kinetic mirrors and perfectly synchronized moving lights with a sophisticated multi-channel sound system, SKALAR offers an audio-visual narration of radiant light vector drawings and multi-dimensional sound in enormous pitch-dark spaces.

SKALAR is an intense journey through the cycle of basic human emotions. Ever-changing tonalities trigger the full spectrum of emotional experiences using light, sound, and motion. The feelings of awe, surprise, exhilaration, and anticipation of having one’s senses overwhelmed are created, explored, and repeated in cycles throughout the piece, providing a collective, yet highly individual emotional experience.

Light and darkness as endless cycles of day and night define our perception of time and influence our emotions. SKALAR is a central piece within light artist Christopher Bauder’s body of work, reflecting his deep fascination with light. In this gigantic installation, light is treated as a solid material that can be dimensionally sculpted and shaped, evoking abstract emotional associations. Intertwined with the tireless exploration of textures, rhythm, and sound design by musician and composer Kangding Ray, the silence of darkness is filled with iridescent forms of spatial light and sound.

The concept of SKALAR is based on Robert Plutchik’s psycho-evolutionary theory of eight primary emotions: anger, fear, sadness, disgust, surprise, anticipation, trust, and joy. The combination of moving mirrors, a changing color palette, and the profound sound of SKALAR triggers sensory and psychological reactions, offering a truly innovative way to experience and feel art.

Shows

2024  Solo Exhibition / Detroit, USA

2021   NOOR Art Festival / Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

2020  Solo Exhibition / Amsterdam, Netherlands

2019   Solo Exhibition / Mexico City, Mexico

2019   Volvo Art Session / Zurich, Switzerland

2018   Solo Exhibition / Berlin, Germany

Awards

2018  darc awards / Best Light Art

Artists

Christopher Bauder
Music: Kangding Ray

Production

WHITEvoid (all locations)
Kraftwerk Berlin (Berlin)
CTM Festival (Berlin)
EQAL (Zurich)
noiselab (Mexico City)
Audio Obscura (Amsterdam)
Westergas (Amsterdam)

Technical support


KINETIC LIGHTS
ROBE

Photos

Ralph Larmann (Berlin & Amsterdam)
Amanda Holmes (Mexico City)
Kirsten van Santen (Amsterdam)

Video

Ralph Larmann
Till Beckmann
Simon Krahl

bottom of page