Beam Paths // steel // 70 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm // 2024
The installation „BEAM PATHS“(Strahlengänge) by Jonas Fries, presented in 2024 at the Francke Foundations in Halle, impressively combines art, space, and light. In this work, Fries explores the interactions of light beams in relation to architectural structures. Through a precise arrangement of mirrors and light sources, fascinating light paths are created within the historic rooms of the Francke Foundations. These light paths guide the viewer through the space while simultaneously challenging them to reconsider their perception of the room. The Francke Foundations, a significant cultural and educational center, provide the ideal setting for this installation with their historical architecture and deeply rooted history. The baroque character of the buildings, along with their function as a place of education and reflection, is subtly highlighted and expanded by Fries’ installation. The light beams interact with the architectural details, creating a play of light and shadow that reinterprets both the physical structure of the space and its symbolic meaning.
Dr. Martin Schmidt-Magin, Art historian and curator