kollision reclaims the name 'CORONA' with an interactive light installation in copenhagen

before it became synonymous with a global pandemic, what did the word ‘corona’ mean to you? maybe you associated it with the name of your favorite beer, or perhaps, you thought of the sun’s corona, which is a glowing ring of light that can be observed during a solar eclipse. well, as part of this year’s copenhagen light festival, kollision has created an interactive installation called ‘CORONA – black hole sun’, which hopes to spread a positive message of hope in the dark winter months of the danish capital.  

image by copenhagen light festival / kongshaug productions VNR.TV

kollision‘s installation is a re-creation of the sun’s corona as seen during a solar eclipse. with its dark center and vibrating ring of light that radiates outward, the work heralds the return of longer days. passersby can enjoy a dose of invigorating energy and put aside any feelings of gloominess that come with long winters in the northern hemisphere. 

image by copenhagen light festival / kongshaug productions VNR.TV

the installation intends to reclaim the word corona, and anchor it in the optimism of the sun, rather than the heavy blanket of somberness that the name has laid all over the world in the past year. on posters nearby, you are instructed on how to interact with the artwork with your smartphone. simply enter a website and from thereon let your finger swipe the circle on the display to add more light and energy to the installation.

image by kollision

the artwork was designed by kollision and developed in cooperation with litenordic spaces, martin professional and copenhagen light festival. CORONA – black hole sun can be found until february 27, 2021, at the front of nordatlantens brygge in copenhagen.

image by kollision

image by kollision

image by kollision

image by kollision

image by kollision

project info:

name: CORONA – black hole sun

location: nordatlantens brygge, copenhagen, denmark

dates: february 5 – 27, 2021

design: kollision in cooperation with litenordic spaces, martin professional and copenhagen light festival

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom