An extraordinary interactive artwork, “Light-Year Transmission,” by Ziv Ze’ev Cohen, a new media artist and assistant professor of Digital Media at Duke Kunshan University, has captivated visitors at the Qiandao Lake 2024 Light and Shadow Biennale in Zhejiang Province.
Cohen teamed up with fellow artist Xinyi Li to create this interactive artwork, which uses 2,000 meters of reflective thread woven into intricate patterns across a 28-meter span. These patterns encode ancient Chinese poems that resonate with the long and rich history of the Chun’an area, which contains the well-known Qiandao Lake. The work will be presented at the location as part of the Light Art Biennale for at least two years.
Viewers can activate the installation with flashlight beams or timed light sources along the path. When light hits the special threads, they reveal hidden patterns and messages, connecting viewers to the past through an immersive, sensory experience.
Collaborating with Li, Cohen has created a dynamic piece that embodies Octavio Paz’s sentiment: “Poetry is the secret story, the story behind the story, the reflection in the mirror of time. Through it, we communicate with our deepest selves and with others across the silent spaces of existence.”
Known for his works exhibited worldwide, including at the Ars Electronica Festival and Gallery 062 in Chicago, Cohen continually challenges the boundaries between the physical and virtual worlds. “Light-Year Transmission” exemplifies this ethos, reflecting the artists’ purpose of blending tradition with innovation and inviting audiences to explore the timeless essence of poetry and human expression through the lens of modern technology.
