“Light is no longer just a spectacle; it’s a way to ask questions,” says artist Sven Sauer, a guest from Germany at the Vilnius Light Festival (January 23–25). Sauer’s world-renowned installations are known not just for their visual effect, but for their ability to evoke emotional states. He will present one of his most prominent and internationally acclaimed projects, Deviation at the Radvila Palace Art Museum. For the first time, visitors will have the exclusive opportunity to view the festival installation before the event begins, starting from January 15.
Based in Berlin, light and spatial artist Sven Sauer is part of a contemporary generation that views light as something far more than mere decoration or a technical stunt. His work combines light, sound, movement, and the viewer’s experience. The artists explores the light as an intangible medium that strongly changes space and the emotional field. To Sauer, light is a means to shift spatial perception, slow down time, and spark a vivid internal dialogue within the viewer.
The creator, who is internationally recognized for his conceptualism and ability to transform light art into reflections, collaborates with cultural institutions and alternative art spaces, and presents his projects at various international light, art, and architecture festivals.
Sven Sauer is one of the initiators of the provocative exhibition series 360 Minutes Art. The project takes a deeper look the transience of art, its value, and the moment of the viewer’s decision – artworks only exist for six hours, during which visitors can see and purchase them.
The artist also contributes to the formation of Berlin’s alternative art scene by initiating and developing such collective projects as the exhibition platform The Dark Rooms, the cultural festival Lost Art Festival, the exhibition series Himmel unter Berlin, and other initiatives that create experience formats in unconventional, often abandoned or historic urban spaces. These projects not only provide a new context for contemporary art, but also actualize the spaces themselves, transforming them into temporary cultural hotspots where urban history, architecture, and contemporary artistic practice meet.
The artist’s work clearly reflects the influence of his many years of experience in the field of visual effects (VFX) – it is revealed in his ability to think in large-scale structures and precisely control light, movement, and time. S. Sauer has participated in international film industry projects, contributing to the creation of the films Melancholia (2011), Oblivion (2013), and Atomic Blonde (2017); he was also a member of the teams that won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects for the film Hugo (2011) and three Emmy Awards for the series Game of Thrones (2011–2019).
Sven Sauer’s portfolio includes a wide range of installations that explore topics such as information overload, societal anxiety, ecology, and collective responsibility.
The installation coming to Vilnius Light Festival is called Deviation and is one of Sauer’s most conceptually powerful works. The idea for it was born out of the constant narrative of catastrophe that has been felt in society recently, which, in the artist’s opinion, often overshadows another reality: people’s ability to unite when it really matters.
The work is composed of glass fragments collected from various locations around the world. A carpet-like mechanism navigates through unsettling glass fragments, initiating a luminous chain reaction. Material usually associated with danger, collapse, loss, or trauma here becomes a source of reflected light. Movement, the most vital element of the installation, allows this desired effect to be achieved. The glass begins to emit light in the dark, carving out a space of fragile balance and offering a glimpse of optimism.
Based on data collected and published in historian Rutger Bregman’s book Humankind: A Hopeful History, Sauer’s installation Deviation conveys the surprising conclusions of a global study – that human nature is not as dark as it is often portrayed. History shows that in times of crisis, people tend to come together. In the darkest of times, solidarity outweighs fear, and acts of kindness grow stronger. For the artist, the focus is not on form, but on the idea that a positive chain reaction can be every bit as potent as a negative one.
– Your work combines light, space, and the viewer’s experience. What interests you most about working with light as an artistic medium?
Light is honest. It does not pretend. It either is or it isn’t. It can change everything without having a material form. And it imposes nothing. It suggests.
– What is a light installation for you – an object or an experience?
Actually, I don’t really believe in objects. I am interested in states of mind – that brief moment of “Oh, okay” in your head when you realize you have become part of something.
– What role does sound play in the installation?
Sound is an integral part of the creative process. It is like a map that encompasses all individual thought processes and dramaturgy. An installation is not a sculpture that freezes a single moment in time. It shows the entire thought process that the viewer experiences. It is a kind of magic that only a few art disciplines can convey.
– What would you like viewers to take away from their encounter with the installation Deviation?
Perhaps a moment of optimism. Or at least the idea that the community is not naive, and solidarity is not necessarily kitsch.
S. Sauer is convinced that light art is changing today – it is becoming less focused on effect and more on position. Light is no longer just a spectacle; it’s a way to ask questions.
Observe and allow yourself to be between the turning point and opportunity, between danger and beauty. Sven Sauer’s installation Deviation will be available earlier than others, starting January 15 at the Radvilas Palace Art Museum. Also, starting January 19, visitors will be able to view the installation Alcove Ltd by Swiss art studio Encor Studio in the Cathedral Square. Installations by other Vilnius Light Festival participants will be presented and invite visitors to experience light art and celebrate the city’s 703rd birthday on January 23–25.
We would like to remind you that the festival program, installations, and route will soon be available on the website lightfestival.lt and in the new mobile app – App Store https://bit.ly/vlf_app or Google Play https://bit.ly/vlf_app1. Please download the latest version.
The Vilnius Light Festival is organized by the Vilnius Culture Center in cooperation with the Vilnius City Municipality.
