quintessenz uses spray paint and mesh to create 'digital pixels' in ancient greek ruins

the expansive ionian sea off of the coast of greece is the location for berlin-based artists thomas granseuer and tomislav topic latest contemporary art installation. the german duo that started in university form quintessenz, with a focus on producing ‘art [that] makes/creates space for its color.‘

the layers start small, and progress in size in tangent with the color schematic
all images by jewgeni roppel / quintessenz

at a 400-year old ruin in the little village of kagatika on the island of paxos, the artists have used over 120 shades of color in their installation. quintessenz created multiple layers that progressively get larger and larger as one walks toward the window found at the end of the installation, which look like digital pixels, contrasted against the old, gray stone.

according to the artists, the project ‘forms the interface between analog and digital’

the wind and sunlight make the installation appear as digital body, mimicking billboards and flickering lights found everywhere in today’s society, the duo has developed a juxtaposition in this 400-year old ruin. the artists encourage visitors to take ‘a moment and simply enjoy the light and the translation of the wind in the material,’ and place ‘their mobile phone cameras in their pockets.’ there are 7-other installations by artists as a part of the paxos project. 

the installation ends with a view of the ionian sea that engulfs the greek island of paxos

quintessenz has used old factory buildings as their canvases in the past
light and wind provide the installation with the kinetic energy to appear as it is digital

paxos contemporary art project ‘seeks to highlight the spirit of the island’