The Berlin light artist Susanne Rottenbacher shows an installation that – inspired by the four elements – raises awareness of respect for nature. Her stage is the cubes in the Swarovski Kristallwelten Store Vienna, which has been exhibiting art in the center of Vienna for thirteen years. The exhibition opening on Wednesday evening at Kärntner Straße 24 was attended by tourism partners of Swarovski Crystal Worlds as well as personalities from the worlds of art, culture and society.
Already in the 5th century BC, the Greek philosopher Empedocles coined the theory that all worldly matter arose from the four elements water, earth, fire and air. Since then, science has become more and more precise about naming the invisible: electrons, photons, muons and quarks. If today the respect for nature becomes more important to the people again, the focus must also be on the natural limits of our environment.
“IN LOVE WITH TOMORROW depicts nature as a holistic network. Element theory can be useful here: not as a revived scientific theory, but as a way to draw an overall picture. This thought-provoking impulse right here, right in the centre of urban restlessness, is intended to reflect our longing for natural balance,” says light artist Susanne Rottenbacher about her inspiration.
The installation of LED light tubes and Swarovski crystal shines in monochrome-strong colors, its complexity and dynamics emerge in view of the details. Carla Rumler, curator of Swarovski Crystal Worlds, at the opening of the light installations at the Swarovski Crystal Worlds Store Vienna about the collaboration with the light artist: “Susanne Rottenbacher is a light painter with incredible elegance who conducts light like an orchestra. Light is the soul of the crystal and brings its magic to life. The collaboration with the world’s most renowned light artists continues to reveal new facets to consider light as the most essential component of crystal.”
Stefan Isser, Managing Director of D. Swarovski Tourism Services GmbH, on the importance of art in the context of the shopping street: “For thirteen years, the Swarovski Kristallwelten Store Vienna has been a stage for art that radiates into public space. This unique combination of an artful shopping experience continues inside the store, for example in the three-story installation “Lake of Shimmer” by Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka. We are delighted that we were able to win Susanne Rottenbacher for this poetic design of the cubes.”
Susanne Rottenbacher follows Jean-Paul Gautier, Manish Arora and most recently Iris van Herpen on stage at the Swarovski Kristallwelten Store Vienna. For the location of Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Innsbruck, Susanne Rottenbacher designed the light installation “Lily Pond”, a luminous, vertical water lily pond.
About SUSANNE ROTTENBACHER
Susanne Rottenbacher (*1969, Göttingen) studied stage design at Barnard College of Columbia University New York and completed a Master of Science with a focus on lighting at the Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, London. She worked as a stage designer at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and as a photographer for the office ”Licht Kunst Licht”; In this context, she conceived, among other things, the lighting design of the Federal Chancellery and the new government buildings.
Since 2004 she has been working as a freelance light artist. Susanne Rottenbacher creates expansive installations from sculptural elements that can best be described as light and color bodies. Her sculptures are characterized by great lightness and transparency and change in dialogue with the surrounding space and times of day. She has already received numerous awards and scholarships, including the Artist in Residence – Scholarship, Centre of Contemporary Art, CCA, Andratx Mallorca (2016), the 1st prize, Kunst am Bau C.O.R. Düsseldorf (2013), the IIDA Award of Merit, IESNA for the lighting design of the Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus, Bundestag, Berlin (2005), and the Josephine Paddock Scholarship of Columbia University New York (1991).
About SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL WORLDS
Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens opened its doors in honor of the company’s 100th anniversary in 1995. They take visitors into a magical world of crystal lifestyle, where science and magic meet. Under the watchful eye of the giant, this enchanting place displays works by nationally and internationally recognized artists, designers and architects on over 7.5 hectares. With the adventure world of the Chambers of Curiosities, the extensive garden and ever new exhibitions, Swarovski Crystal Worlds sparked the dreams of the 15 million visitors who have inspired them since their opening.
The two Swarovski Kristallwelten stores in Innsbruck and Vienna are stimulating extensions of this magical world. They continue the fascinating magic of the popular crystal destination in Wattens and together form the internationally renowned D. Swarovski Tourism Services GmbH.
In one of the largest Swarovski stores in the world, shopping becomes a unique experience. In addition, there are a variety of events for young and old throughout the year, in which Swarovski dedicates itself to culture, lifestyle and the Austrian heritage of the company in its own Wonderland to stimulate the imagination and let the creative spark jump over. In this way, the medium of crystal becomes a living experience and surprises visitors anew every time.
Photo credit: © Swarovski Kristallwelten / Tischler
