miguel chevalier's 'pixels wave light 2017' animates the forum des halles in paris

the forum des halles in paris presents miguel chevalier‘s latest perennial artwork ‘pixels wave light 2017’, installed on level -2 under the canopy designed by architect patrick berger. the digital installation takes place within a twleve-windowed corridor, 32 meters long and 3.5 meters high. 

miguel chevalier reveals ‘pixels wave light 2017’ as a body of light and movement that complements patrick berger‘s dynamic roof. in other words, it transforms the forum des halles into a dynamic and contemporary space, with twelve ‘multicolored graphic scenes’  that follow one another every fifteen minutes. these lighting effects are generated in real time on 50,000 LEDs, controlled by a computer program developed especially for this work. the graphic universes constantly swirl through different visual fields and give contrasting dynamics: spirals, waves, geometric lines, gentle and rapid pulsations. ultimately, they all confront each other, overlap, and seem to get lost in an infinite realm. 

the 50,000 LEDs are driven individually, with their color and intensity scattered through poly-carbonate and translucent dacryl® panels (synthetic glass – polymethyl methacrylate). furthermore, they are engraved with distorting magnifying glasses custom made for this artwork. the juxtaposition of these different materials creates kinetic effects and stunning visual experiences — with the magnifying glasses amplifying the effects and highlighting a ‘moiré pattern’, distortions and compressions. 

‘forms undulate like a giant kaleidoscope, creating a new poetic of material by elaborating an aesthetic of light at its purest state and in various combinations. pixels wave light 2017 creates an energetic world of metaphoric images representing the flux of people that gives life to the forum’. 

miguel CHEVALIER pixels wave light 2017 (short version)
video from claude mossessian

project info:

title: pixels wave light 2017, miguel chevalier
description: public perennial artwork for forum des halles (level -2), paris (france)
technical production: voxels productions, LEDpxl, dacryl®
software: claude micheli
dimensions: 32 m x 3,50 m / 105 ft x 9.84 ft
access: everyday from 8am to 10pm

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: lea zeitoun | designboom