"WILD\LIGHT No. 1" Sculpture

German light artist Heike Stuckstedde, aka ATARA, lives and works in Vienna. Drawing on her experience and knowledge of art history and her exploration of spatial relationships in interior design, she consciously focuses on the medium of light. This began with her master‘s project, which was the first to specifically address the topic of light and shadow in the context of lighting and greening light wells in Gründerzeit buildings, for which she developed her own methodology under the term “light guide”.
Fibre optics (light guides) are fibers that transport light over long distances by means of total reflection. By deliberately damaging their surface manually, they emit light sideways, creating fine, inhomogeneous lines of light.

These fibre optics give rise to organic forms that, when combined with different materials, become filigree objects and atmospheric installations. The optical effects polarize between clear lines of light and diffuse clouds of light. However, the overall effect is always one of spatial depth and a lively connection with the respective material into which the light guides are incorporated.

Stuckstedde organically shapes light from natural materials into sensual, technical works of art that transform rooms into lively, magical atmospheres and allow the viewer to discover something new again and again, depending on their perspective. Conceptually, the work always engages with the space, developed directly from the materials that carry the light. The materials range from delicate textiles to filament yarn, fiberglass, handmade straw silk, stone, moss, and metal. The ever-expanding repertoire of materials is the consequence and implementation of the concept and, at the same time, the bridge to its realization.The fascination with the diversity of materials and processing techniques that lead to transformation processes has been present since her childhood: the feel, appearance, and properties of materials trigger her to associate them with light and explore its effects. Lightness and translucency, i.e., the ability to shine through, play a central role in filling spaces without obscuring the view, arousing curiosity about what lies behind in the space, and allowing the unexpected to be discovered again and again. This can be certain static areas in the space or fleeting encounters with its users.