Chicago-based artistic duo Luftwerk has unveiled a mesmerizing new exhibition titled "The Sun Standing Still" at Secrist Beach, featuring a series of works that push the boundaries of how light and color can be manipulated through industrial materials. The centerpiece installation, "Open Frame (2025)," fills a cavernous corner of the gallery with rectangular aluminum panels coated in acrylic and fluorescent paint, creating an immersive environment that echoes the stained glass windows of Le Corbusier's iconic Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Haut in Ronchamp, France. While the pioneering architect relied on natural sunlight filtering through colored glass, Luftwerk's contemporary interpretation harnesses the unique properties of fluorescent pigments and strategically placed LED spotlights to achieve a luminous glow that appears almost self-illuminating.
The technical execution of "Open Frame" represents a significant evolution in Luftwerk's ongoing investigation into artificial and natural light sources. Petra Bachmaier and Sean Gallero, the collaborative partners behind Luftwerk, have coated the aluminum panels with layers of fluorescent paint that respond to a handful of purple LED spotlights, creating a radiant effect that transforms the entire installation into a glowing exploration of color theory. The work's size-variable configuration allows it to adapt to the specific dimensions of Secrist Beach's architecture, making each viewing experience unique. This approach fundamentally differs from traditional stained glass techniques by eliminating dependence on external natural light, instead creating a controlled, perpetual luminosity that can be experienced regardless of time of day or weather conditions.
Beyond "Open Frame," the exhibition showcases several other series that demonstrate Luftwerk's fascination with perspective and viewer movement. The "Solargraph" series references long-duration photography that captures the sun's path between solstices, featuring skinny aluminum strips painted white on one side and bisected by various hues on the reverse. These works stretch across the gallery walls, revealing an expanse of faintly tinted white when viewed from one angle before dramatically shifting to a bright arc of color as visitors walk past. Similarly, the freestanding "Aperture of Twilight" sculptures place five panels with differently sized openings exactly eight inches apart, creating a portal-like effect that invites closer inspection and physical engagement from multiple vantage points.
The circular "Aurae Quartet" pieces function as three-dimensional color studies, utilizing concentric rings of painted aluminum to capture a sense of inward or outward movement. Each piece in this series, including "Aurae Quartet No. 1" and "Aurae Trio No. 1," measures approximately 33 inches and 26 inches in diameter respectively, with a depth of three inches that adds sculptural dimensionality to the exploration of color relationships. These works exemplify Luftwerk's interest in how negative space and pigment can conjure luminosity without actual light sources, creating what they describe as "sensory experiences" that elicit emotional and perceptual responses from viewers moving through the exhibition space.
Petra Bachmaier and Sean Gallero have been collaborating as Luftwerk for over a decade, establishing themselves as leading figures in Chicago's contemporary art scene with their unwavering focus on light-based installations. Their work consistently draws inspiration from natural phenomena, particularly the characteristics of sunlight as it approaches the horizon, which they translate into artificial constructs that challenge viewers' understanding of illumination. "The Sun Standing Still" remains on view at Secrist Beach through February 28, offering visitors an extended opportunity to experience these radiant explorations. The artists maintain an active online presence through their website and Instagram, where they regularly document their studio process and share insights into their color theory research and upcoming projects.
