2023

Astra noctilucent

Installation

Glass and steel

80 x 160 cm (w  x h)

Astra Noctilucent is an installation designed for public spaces that initially appears to be a functional telescope. This device rotates and tilts to encompass the entire celestial sphere. However, upon looking through its ocular lens, a transformation occurs. Instead of converging light from the moon or sun, the telescope fragments it and disperses it in all directions.This intentional deviation from traditional functionality is achieved through a meticulously crafted lens composed of many smaller individual lenses. The light from our two largest celestial bodies is broken into luminous points, creating a constellation-like effect. This installation compensates for the loss of the true night sky in our over-illuminated cities, offering a poetic reflection on the beauty obscured by urban light pollution.