The artist lit up St Nicholas Church in Kyiv

The installation ‘Soul’ appeared on the façade of St. Nicholas Church in Kyiv for Kyiv Design Week. At the same time, a similar illumination decorated the interior of the historic railway station in Zurich, Switzerland. The author of the illuminated composition is artist Mykola Kabluka.

The ‘Soul’ installation is intended to symbolise the energy and creativity of the Ukrainian people. The luminous pattern on the façade of the church is intended to focus attention on the historic building and emphasise its value as an architectural monument.

In contrast, an installation inside the historic ticket office of Zurich’s railway station was created as part of this year’s Zurich Design Week. The installation transformed the station into a space with soft colours and undulating shapes that create a magical, lively and dynamic space.

“Soul” was created using innovative technology and glass filters, a laser and special software. Light waves are projected onto the architectural objects and make them seem to come alive.

We use light as the main tool to convey feelings that cannot be described in words. For this installation, we created a system of moving light filters that specifically disperse light, creating a sense of constant change and transformation of the surrounding space. It is a combination of technology and art that puts the viewer in a special meditative state,” says Mykola Kabluka, author ofthe project.

The ‘Soul’ installation has an important task – to highlight those architectural objects that are in need of renovation. In this way, the project has already attracted attention in Kyiv, where it was used to illuminate St. Nicholas Church. This neo-Gothic church is one of the city’s most famous architectural landmarks. A fire in 2021 damaged the church’s façade and organ, and the building is in need of strengthening and restoration.

The purpose of the installation created as part of Zurich Design Week is similar. It is intended to draw attention to Zurich’s oldest railway station. Due to the opening of the alternative Zimmerberg Base Tunnel route in 2002, most long-distance trains no longer pass through or stop at Enge station, and the westernmost track has been removed. Among other things, the rooms of the old local signal box, ticket and baggage counters and storage facilities have disappeared. “Soul” is therefore intended as a reminder of the qualities of these two old facilities.

The illumination of buildings such as St. Nicholas Church and the historic ticket office at Enge station is not only an artistic statement, but also a call to action and the preservation of memory. It is a way of highlighting the importance of protecting architectural monuments that are at risk of destruction. It is also a chance to remind us that such historic places are not only the beauty of the past, but also our shared cultural future, the project organisers emphasise.

Projects such as Soul are important not only from an artistic point of view, but also as a means of social activism. They draw attention to the important issues of preserving architectural heritage, while at the same time expanding the boundaries of traditional art with the latest technologies. Light in the hands of the artist becomes a tool for dialogue between past and future, reminding us of the importance of cultural preservation.

source: Mykola Kabluk

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