Studien zur Sehnsucht

Studie zur Sehnsucht [Zagreb] 2017; Studie zur Sehnsucht [Évora] 2014, Studie zur Sehnsucht [Bremen] 2013; Studie zur Sehnsucht [Enschede] 2011; Studie zur Sehnsucht[Ghent] 2010; Studie zur Sehnsucht[Kopenhagen] 2009; Studie zur Sehnsucht[Chur] 2009; Studie zur Sehnsucht[Malmö] 2008; Studie zur Sehnsucht[Bregenz] 2008; Studie zur Sehnsucht[Köln] 2007

Studien zur Sehnsucht, Studies for Longing/Seeing, are site-specific sculptural ensembles and longing machines. They are connected with a reactive system, a geophone and a seismometer, which sense the location‘s seismic activity. Seismic data of the place is captured in real-time and turned into the source of information associated with simulations of equivalent movements keeping the work in constant transformation. The system is sensitive to both the micro seismic pulses of the exhibition space and its surroundings, including the ambient noise of the earth and the fine shifting of the oor caused by visitors’ moving weights. A dialogical relationship between reality (the data) and fiction (the simulated  movements actualized by the sculptural mechanics) is established.

Studie zur Sehnsucht [Zagreb]




The sculptures address the concept of longing in relation to the human idea of nature and landscape, herein symbolized by mountainsides and tectonic destruction. They explore the idea that for interpreting our surroundings, stimuli, data, and relationships, we only move on seemingly stable ground. Nevertheless our interpretations are deeply influenced by this longing for stability: We are constantly developing and implementing techniques that expand our ability of receptivity, on which we consequentially build our perception and again develop interpretation models and patterns to guide ourselves in the world.

Triggered by changing seismic signals, the sculptural bodies react and move within their time frame of adaptation. The system acts like an adaptive sensory organ, susceptible to stimuli. Like eyes to light and ears to noise, it adapts to changing circumstances and generates its own motion patterns. In a state yet slightly tense and aware, the work balances noise by vibrating between contractions and stretching.

These kinetic sculptures may be regarded as pseudo-scientific simulations of the landscape. Its shape and the inherent proportions arising from the mechanics are the result of extended graphical research on the mountainsides, conducted by Kerstin Ergenzinger during long hiking tours, and of a subsequent analysis of the natural proportions noted in the drawings.

Studie zur Sehnsucht[Kopenhagen]




Installation Sculpture Work / since 2007 (ongoing)

polymer foam, carbon, nitinol, silicon, magnets, steel plates, cable ties, strings, pigments custom-made Lehman-seismometer, geophone, custom-made mechanics, custom-made hard- and software

in close collaboration with Thom Laepple

by the SMArt® Steps Program of Dynalloy.Inc and Stefan Niermann igus® gmbh