Beacons is a site-specific light installation by Sasha Kojjio and Alisa Davydova, seamlessly integrated into the natural landscape. It invites viewers to reflect on the strength and fragility of nature through real-time light animations generated by algorithms that mimic natural phenomena - ocean waves, geological layering, sand dune movements, and the patterns of birch trees.

The premiere of Beacons took place at the INTERVALS Festival 2024, which welcomed over 500,000 visitors. The installation was set in a birch grove of the city park — a former tree nursery where the birches were planted in a perfect grid.

Technically light installation consists of 10 custom made pillars assembled from 800 video pixel bars. The movement of light among the pillars is accentuated by a multi-channel sound system. Animations of light are created in real time by feedback-loop algorithms that replicate natural processes such as ocean waves, rock formation, movement of sand dunes and birch tree patterns. Because of the generative origin of the algorithm each iteration of the narrative is unique and slightly different from the previous one.

Credits:

Year: 2024

Location: Intervals Festival

Artist: Sasha Kojjio

Producer: Alisa Davydova

Curator: Ksusha Chekovskaya

Technical support: Dreamlaser