Inspired by BMW’s innovative take on the future of mobility, such as the combination of completely novel interior design using shy-tech and autonomous driving, we translated their core message into an installation creating a unique space, SYNC.
The starting point for the collaboration were inspiring dialogues between Daan Roosegaarde and Adrian van Hooydonk (BMW Group's Design Director) and their team of designers about the new space of future cars. Autonomous driving vehicles need a strong interaction and connectivity between humans, vehicles and their surroundings in order to flawlessly navigate cities. As we are facing more complex times this connectivity principle is also key for human interaction in today’s societies.
Daan Roosegaarde: "When I was a boy I never stay inside, I always went outside. Playing in nature of the Netherlands, I was so used to personalising and customising the world around me; building tree-huts, looking at the flow of wandering ants, exploring new worlds. For me this is the essence of design; to create landscapes to which you feel connected, your mind, your body, with each other."
SYNC is an immersive art installation in which you create your own space. The artwork is a landscape of light where visitors can create their own favorite space, connect with others and visualise their ‘sense of place’. The artwork shows contour lines which become visible by walking over a flexible membrane surface with laser scanning light underneath it. Your presence physically pushes the membrane down to the floor which therefore reveals lines of light. A circle of blue light surrounds your presence where you walk, interacting with your behavior. With more people the artwork creates shared spaces of light, making new interactive connections between people. Although high-tech, the artwork feels intuitive, with jellyfish shapes occuring and disappear. A special music soundscape,accompanies the artwork is created by Berlin-based musical partnership “Tale of Us”.
Adrian van Hooydonk, design director of BMW: “Collaborations with designers and artists are a very valuable source of inspiration for me and my team. The creative exchange with Daan Roosegaarde and his approach encouraged us to research and experiment new forms of interaction."
Art inspires us to think about the future of society in a new way. The artwork SYNC not only shows the individual impact on the landscape but also how crucial our interaction is, making us feel our joint responsibility for a sustainable future.