Zonnestraal / Sun Beam

A bridge over a moat provides access to the new the Westfälische Hochschule building in Bocholt. This is the site of Dutch artist Jan van Munster’s light installation. A stainless steel column stands in the water at an incline of eight degrees. Along the bridge, 40 lighting heads have been mounted atop stainless steel columns and tilted at the same angle as the large column in the moat. During the day, these elements serve as a jarring diagonal visual counterpoint to the surrounding horizontal and vertical architecture, while also rhythmically accompanying visitors into the building. In the dark, all of elements glow with the same green light: the tall stele takes on the appearance of a long, powerful sunbeam falling into the water and reflecting off of it; the lamps glow as light spots along the bridge and are also doubled on the water.

Jan van Munster has explored the subject of energy in numerous light installations, illustrating it as electric currents, waves, and lines. Consequently, his work here is devoted to the energy of the sun, which, with the help of electricity, is visualized as a single ray of light at night, a time when it otherwise could not be observed.

The Zonnestraal / Sun Beam was created as part of a Kunst am Bau competition for the new building at the Westfälische Hochschule in Bocholt.