PRESSRELEASE, July 19 2006

PRESENTATION of ART SCULPTURE at TU Eindhoven, the Netherlands,
September 12^th 2006

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A levitating Buddha powered by solar energy

The sculpture States of Nature combines art and physics
At the campus of the Technical University Eindhoven (TU/e) a massive work of art is being constructed. In the festive year of its 50th anniversary the Stichting Natuurkunst will unveil the landscape-sculpture “SOH19 States of Nature”. Invited by students of Applied Physics, artist Alex Vermeulen created SOH19 SON together with a 144-page book, as part of his multimedia project States of Humanity (SOH).

The Art project 'SOH19 States of Nature'
The ‘landscape’ project “SOH19, States of Nature” is one of the biggest works of art in the Dutch public space. It consists of a pond of 1700 sq.m. with 88 floating black eggs. Each egg is equipped with a solar panel. The solar energy generated by all eggs is converted into a magnetic field. This magnetic field makes a human figure, placed within a transparent cylinder in the middle of the pond, levitate and moving up and down. The amount of generated power depends on the strength of the sunlight, the wind and clouds, and dictates how high the central figure rises. In the morning it will appear from under the water surface. “SOH19 States of Nature” is a powerful image of the dynamic relationship between the forces of nature, technology and art.

Stichting Natuurkunst
During the last 5 years, about 30 students of the TU/e have worked together to make this project happen, and have collected the grand sum of 400.000 euro. It is highly remarkable that students have been able to organise a project of this scale. The project is being supported by the university, diverse companies, art-foundations and governmental organisations.

Alex Vermeulen
Since 1996 Alex Vermeulen dedicates himself to 'States of Humanity' (SOH), an overall work of art containing several episodes. SOH zooms in on themes that connect the individual and society: religion, violence, individualism, reflection, spirituality, perception and sexuality. Through films, photos, installations of sculptures and interdisciplinary collaborative projects, Alex Vermeulen depicts the essence of our times, he reflects on the mechanisms that determine it, on the directions it is going and on the dilemmas we face.
The period 1996-1999, the SOH project is characterized by observations: a documentary, a reference book, and several installations and exhibitions. From 1999 onwards, the sensorial perception of the condition humanaine is increasingly important within the SOH episodes: a movie, an opera, the ‘Mood Rooms’.
The egg-shaped anthropomorphic figure that appears in the sculptures forms an archetype, a metaphore for the themes of the SOH project.

The various episodes of the SOH project were presented at the Van Abbemuseum, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Holland Festival, Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen, the New Museum of Contemporary Art New York and various clubs, galleries and public spaces around the globe.

Unveiling
Tuesday September 12th, Stichting Natuurkunst will unveil the work of art in a spectacular fashion with performances by fire artist Erik Hobijn and DJ Eddy de Clerq. The organisation expects to welcome around a thousand local, national and international guests. At this moment, construction is in full swing.
The location is near the entrance of the TU/e campus, next to the river De Dommel and the Vertigo and Kennispoort-buildings.

The publication 'SOH19 States of Nature: Sun enlightenment'
Together with the project an international publication will be released. The book
“SOH19 States of Nature; Sun enlightenment” will be presented to the public also on Sept. 12. The book will cover the history of its conception, with a focus on the different disciplines that converged during the creation; physics and art, technology and spirituality, solar cult and sustainable energy, biological processes and social interaction.
Essays from (a.o.) Marcel Möring (‘the Great Longing’), Vincent Icke (astrophysicist), Robert Greene (‘The 48 Laws of Power’), IJsbrand van Veelen (VPRO), Koert van Mensvoort (TU/e) en Jan van Adrichem (Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam).

SOH19 States of Nature
Artistic concept: Alex Vermeulen. www.syndicaat.org
Technical concept: Stichting Natuurkunst, www.natuurkunst.nl
Location: Campus Technische Universiteit Eindhoven

SOH19 States of Nature: Sun enlightenment
Alex Vermeulen & Frans Snik (ed.)
144 pages
Pijama Publishers.
release September 12th 2006

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