mischer’traxler presents LeveL: the fragile balance of utopia
Utopia can take many forms, including the 37 examples at the London Design Biennale. As many countries saw fit to participate in the inaugural event, which ran for just under three weeks, starting on 7 September 2016. Scheduled to coincide with London Design Festival, the mix of presentations was received with measured optimism as each country tackled the theme of “Utopia by Design” with a markedly different perspective.
mischer’traxler‘s site-specific installation for the Austrian pavilion was among the more poetic examples in the Somerset House, which served as the venue for the Biennale. The young Vienna studio made its name with interactive projects, often involving light, and “LeveL: the fragile balance of utopia” is no exception. Katharina Mischer and Thomas Traxler designed a large-scale mobile to represent the delicate balance between individual and societal needs. A cascade of horizontal bars, accented by seed-like lamps at both ends, is suspended from the ceiling of the 40-square-meter gallery space. The luminaires emit maximum luminosity when the kinetic sculpture is still, while movement disrupts the light. Thus, “LeveL” represents a system that is perfect until external forces — manmade or otherwise — act on it.
The Austrian pavilion at the London Design Biennale was curated by Thomas Geisler, Curator Design Collection, MAK Vienna, and made possible with the support of Austria Design Net.
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