Art that is larger than life. Tagging buildings (well, temporarily). Showing the world a bit of what resides in your mind and heart. Remaking the city with your own images. Telling a story that the whole community can see and hear. This is the purview of Austrian artist Markus Dorninger.
His work is pretty fantastic. And it’s a lot of fun. If you find yourself near his bicycle-mounted projector, the night-time art installations take on the vibe of a dance party, with interesting music and sounds that complement the images.
Since Markus mounted his projector on a bicycle, it’s highly mobile and it’s possible for him to project guerilla art into a wide array of spaces (though he had permission to shine his work for multiple nights on several buildings throughout Boulder).
This week, my 7-year-old worked with Markus on his current public art installation, Mapping Stories. First, Markus engaged the group of kids, of which my son was one, in drawing pictures and in combining those pictures to tell a story. Then he taught them how to transfer them onto a computer and animate them (yes, these images move!). Finally, all of the participants were invited to watch their art being displayed at a public showing, which on this particular night took place in a downtown Boulder school yard. On other nights during his Boulder showcase, art shows happened on the courthouse, the band shell, and the library, as well as other public buildings.
My son enjoyed this great opportunity to work with Markus on his art installation, and we all enjoyed seeing the end product. Being part of a public art installation has inspired my 7-year-old to think of other ways that he can display and share his art (see HERE and HERE). He loved working with Markus, who was wonderfully patient and inspiring when working with a group of kids ranging in ages from 6 to 13 years old. My son’s currently musing about designing a pedal-powered generator for Markus to use when projecting his art, making a very-green art form (Markus already uses a bike to get around the city and works from a rechargeable battery) even more environmentally friendly.
Making art can inspire life and the imagination in so many ways. Thank you, Markus, for including us in your art adventures.
Have you ever participated in a public art installation?