In the fall of 2001 the well known Los Angeles-based artist
Hiro Yamagata realized a spectacular laser installation at the
Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
Yamagata's idea was to bathe the world famous Guggenheim Museum,
a wonderful structure by the leading American architect Frank O. Gehry,
from the outside in a grandiose magic of laser light, thereby for a
period of about four weeks creating a unique attraction not only for
the visitors of the museum but reaching far beyond the city.
Photo: © Hiro Yamagata
Responsible for the complete organization and realization was the
Spanish production team Times of Changes S.L.,
which fulfilled this task admirably under the leadership of Ralf Bergmann.
Companies from Spain, Germany, the USA and Canada were asked to join in
this immense project, more than 30 technicians and helpers worked for two
weeks to set it up. The installation consisted of temporary supply systems
for the lasers as well as extensive constructions for the visitor's bridge,
completely covered in reflecting foil, truss systems for approximately 200
deflecting mirrors and an ingenious fog system. During only one week
15 high power laser systems were installed, adjusted and programmed.
M. Sollinger and programmer Stephan Rieck were present since
the control of the whole system was executed using four
Lasergraph DSP workstation superior, each containing four
Lasergraph DSP cards. Connected by ethernet they were remotely controlled
by a central Lasergraph DSP with LGRemote.
Photo: © Hiro Yamagata
The opening took place on time and without disruptions on 29 October
in front of a high ranking invited audience in parallel with the opening
of the Frank O. Gehry retrospective in the museum.
Until 2 December 2001 the fantastic laser spectacle takes place
every evening from 6:00 to 12:00 PM, bathing the museum building
and the thrilled audience in an ocean of colors and light in
a constantly repeating 20 minute sequence.
Further information concerning the project "Photon 999", the
technical details and the companies involved is available at
www.hiroyamagata.com.