Monique Thomaes

Werke

Duet – Interactive Light Sculpture

2005 Competition Contract awarded by the Studie- en Expertisebureau De Palmenaer, Gent Open competition 10 artists were selected to further develop their draft designs. The assignment was to develop a contemporary solution for the remodelling of an important traffic junction, and thus to draw attention to this point of entry into the city. The artwork was to be integrated into the facades of two facing buildings and to connect the two buildings. Concept Duet – Interactive Light Sculpture Two lines of light were attached to each of the two buildings in the middle of each façade: they stand for the two legs of the letter M (the logo of the Maaltecenter). Through the connection of the vertical light lines to a timer, the dormant state is regularly broken; the light shines up from below in as many stages as there are lamps – and back down again. After this movement, the work returns to its dormant state.

present-ed

lightanimation in the Loggia KMSKA. Concept Monique Thomaes. Light advice Harry Cole. Light-installation as part of the third edition from Into the Light international exhibition by Error One, (www.errorone.be) with video and light installations on public display in Antwerp South in collaboration with the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, Middelheimmuseum, M hka, Cinema Zuid, Air and several galleries. For Into the Light Monique Thomaes made a light installation at the loggia high on the façade of the stately Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp. The choice of this location arises out of her interest in space, light and architecture. During the course of the project, the eleven artists’ busts are brought increasdingly into the spotlight: one by one, or in group, a powerful spotlight draws these inconspicuous images out of their niche in a theatrical and poetic way. The architecture remains unchanged: what is already there only receives an additional accent. Passers-by are invited to look at the building in a new way.

_motion_ interactive light sculpture

Berlin, Prenzlauerberg 2005 Competition Contract awarded by the District Authority of Pankow. Five artists were invited to participate. On a lot at Winsstr 49-50 in Prenzlauerberg, the District Authority of Pankow planned to build a sports complex. The design concepts were to be situated between light installations and kinetic sculptures. Starting from the function of the building as a sport and recreation facility, the design was to deal with the theme of “movement”. Echoing the rhythm of the stairs, a stripe of blue lights is mounted parallel to the stairs along the edges of the elevator shaft. The movement of a person into the entrance hall causes the lines of light to begin moving: with each new visitor who comes into the hall, the light flashes up to the roof and back down again, where it waits for the next. Realization The work was created in 2005.

fassade

Brussels 2001 / 2002 Competition The Flemish parliament put this project out to tender in two rounds. The first run being open for anybody to participate. 11 artists were chosen for the final decision. 4 projects made it into the final round. The call for the integration of art into the building was made in the course of the renovation of the Flemish parliament. Seven different areas of the house were subject to the integration of art into the building. Concept An interactive light sculpture is the underlying idea of this concept, which is aiming for the complete integration of art into architecture. The location for the realization of the project is the double gable of the wall facing Ijzerenkruisstraat. The light sculpture interlinks events inside and outside the parliament. It takes the changing situation of day- and night-time into account. It accentuates the rigid sobriety of the architecture through a rigid rhythm in the change of the light. Yet it also adds a playful quality to the buildings impressive appearance. Realization 2002

een_zucht_van_licht

Tielt Belgium 2011 Competition Art Work to the renovation from the Hospial 6 invited artists Concept The installation has two parts: the light sculpture at the facade and at the entrance are communicating with each other, with the environment and with the visitor. The light sculptures behave as follows: – in „rest” mode there is like a soft movement at the rythm of a quiet normal breathing – in „active” mode the movement is following the steps of the visitors The visitor becomes a part of the artwork: he provokes the fast movement of the light sculpture, which thereafter returns to its „rest” mode.

Eckdaten

www.mthomaes.com

Medienkunst, Lichtkunst, Fotografie

Monique Thomaes

As a Belgian artist, she moved to Berlin (in 1988) after having lived in the Netherlands for twenty years. At the moment she is working in Antwerp.

Her move to Berlin has had a major impact on her work: it is reflected in a transition from sculpture to spatial installations. Through diverse courses of further education, studies and experiments, her work has expanded into the fields of photographic, slide, light, and video installations.

Her videowork can be seen as a perception of/ reaction to/ spaces, light, time and movement. Meditative, slow, poetic works alternate with works in which image and sound are transformed into dynamic choreographies through the use—and misuse—of montage techniques. The works are, for preference, shown as large-scale projections or distributed among a variety of monitors. They respond to the viewer and to the space in which they are shown.

Her passion for space and architecture that characterises her installations and videowork is implemented the last years in art-in-public-space-projects. In the most of these realised interventions, light and movement play a predominant role. In other proposals she worked with artificial light and reflections. Displays with poetic text , used in public spaces, are another center of focus, as well as videostills that are translated in monumental series of pictures.

The merge with existing architecture, the response on existing or yet to be constructed spaces ,
the reaction with respect to the content of buildings, have priority in all her work and proposals.

See texts from different authors about her work under http://www.mthomaes.com/bibliography" target="_blank">http://www.mthomaes.com/bibliography">http://www.mthomaes.com/bibliography

Vita

Exhibitions and participations
2018 the glory of the Light – de luister van het licht Muzeum, licht en landschap Roeselare (see ArtLight 11/2019)
2017 celibataire divas – Herkenrode Refuge Hasselt – group exhibition, participation with presented, video installation
2016 Colours of the sky – Gallery De Mijlpaal, Knokke – group exhibition – photo-installation – neonsculpture
2015/2016 Kunstlicht / Lichtkunst – Hofke van Chantraine, Turnhout (B)group exhibition participation with light installation – video installation
2015 Glass-works – Galerie De Mijlpaal, Heusden-Zolder – group exhibition
participation with neon sculpture
2014 bloed – Landcommanderij Alden Biesen- light-installation/displays/prints
2012 High Voltage – Heusden – Parallel-event Manifesta 9 – light installation
2012 Bookshopbookshow – BE-PART Waregem
2011 het ligt in jou _ – light animation (concept) as part of the exhibition „Into the Light“ by „Error One“, KMSKA, Antwerp, Belgium
2010 into the light: light-installation front KMSKA - Antwerp (B) with Error-One, M hka and KMSKA
2010 in-gewikkeld: Hasselt- multimedia-installation
2010 bewogen - CC Tervesten - Beveren: multimedia-installation
2009 plaatsen/lieux/spaces/orte - CC Kortrijk: video-installation
2009 In-Between “the intimacy of space”: multimedia-installation
2009 Kunst-in-Huis, Fotomuseum Antwerp
2008 ARTchitectuur - Monumental Bornem: videoinstallation
2008 EPOS-project: exhibitions in Stellenbosch and Pretoria
2007 plaatsen/lieux/spaces/orte: CCNOA - Brussel: videoinstallation
2007 Passie voor het ongrijpbare: groupexhibition Minderbroedersmuseum St. Truiden, videoinstallation
2007 breath-taking, video-installation, fstforward gallery antwerp, videoinstallation
2007 here today-gone tomorrow: videofestival Antwerp/fstForward gallery, videoinstallation
2006 messages: De Garage - Mechelen, display in public space
2006 A Room (with a View): Arenbergschouwberg, screening in cooperation with galerie fstforward
2005 Niemands Adem: International exhibition- Tielrode, videoinstallation
2005 Stippels & Pixels: Zebrastraat Gent, foto- en videoinstallation
2005 Hot-re-strike: Warande Turnhout, videoinstallation
2004 Rencontres Internationales Paris-Berlin, videofestival Paris
2003 Rencontres Internationales Paris-Berlin, videoinstallation in Paris and in Berlin
2001 Intime Expeditionen: Haus am Waldsee, Videoinstallation
2001 Intime Expeditionen: Badischer Kunstverein Kasrlsruhe, Videoinstallation
2000 Argos, Brussel: Video – Informationdays
2000 Die Langsamkeit, project Interim: Schloß Plüschow, Videoinstallation

Biography (selection)
2011 Art in public space: interactive lightinstallation hospital St. Andries Tielt (B)
2008 EPOS-Project in South-Africa with flemish and S-A writers and artists (Kaapstad, Stellenbosch, Pretoria)
2006 EPOS-Project in South-Africa and Flanders with flemish and S-A writers and artists (Johannesburg)
2005 Art in public space: interactive Lightinstallation Gent, Belgium
2004 Art in public space: interactive Lightinstallation Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg
2002 Art in public space: interactive lightinstallation Flemish Parliament Brussels
1998/2001 Visiting Professor at the Higher Institute for Fine Arts Flanders, Belgium
1997/98 Scholarship Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Ministerie voor Kunst en Kultuur, Belgium
1997 Scholarship Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kultur, Berlin
1995 Student at the Summerschool Salzburg (video Nan Hoover)
1994 Artist in residence in the Villa Romana, Florenz
1993 Student at the Summeracademy (Peter Erskine (LA), Lightinstallations in public space
1993–1998 Guestteacher HDK-Berlin
1988 Removal to Berlin, guest auditor HDK Berlin
1986/1988 Teacher sculpting in Rotterdam
1985/1986 Academie voor beeldende kunsten, Rotterdam
1975/1982 Study at the Vrije Akademie, Den Haag