GELSENKIRCHEN.- In his series Relational Architecture, Canadian-Mexican artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer provides tools that transform urban space into a fleeting architecture. Pulse Park, put into effect at Bochum’s Westpark by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, is the artist’s biggest so far after his illumination of Madison Square Park in New York, amongst other works. His interactive light installation with 250 theatre spotlights makes all Westpark pulsate and defines an urban meeting space.

Yesterday (August 16th) Pulse Park was opened in the presence of the artist. Urbane Künste Ruhr had called on Bochum citizens to submit their most beautiful story or their most exciting experience relating to Westpark. The best three applicants were chosen to present their story at the opening on Thursday evening. Apart from the artist, they were the first three pulse generators. Many of the numerous visitors joined them.

At dawn, Pulse Park transforms Westpark at the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum into a sea of lights, brought to life solely by the heartbeats of the passers-by. A computer-operated sensor measures the activity of each visitor’s heart and translates the registered data into sound and light pulses. Every new pulse generator makes the signal move by one position, and those pulses already fed into the system are stored, so that the park is illuminated by the heartbeats. Citizens of Bochum and visitors to the Ruhrtriennale are invited to participate. Pulse Park is open daily until 16th September from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., admission is free.

At 8.30 p.m. on Sunday, 19th August, Artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer gives a public speech (in English) at the Turbinenhalle at Jahrhunderthalle Bochum. The internationally renowned artist will present his projects for the first time in the cultural metropolis Ruhr.

"Pulse Park is a visualisation of vital signs, transforming public space into a fleeting architecture of light and movement. Pulse beats from past and present side by side create an artificial landscape that, in spite of its expanse, retains the intimacy of the individual biometric rhythm,“ said Rafael Lozano-Hemmer.

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, born in Mexico in 1967, studied physical chemistry at the Concordia University in Montréal, Canada. Lozano-Hemmer’s kinetic sculptures, interactive environments, video installations and photographs are exhibited all over the world. He created works for events on the occasion of the Millennium festivities in Mexico City, the opening of the YCAM Center in Japan, the EU expansion in Dublin, the commemoration of the Tlatelolco students massacre in Mexico, the 50th anniversary of the Guggenheim Museum in New York or the Olympic winter games in Vancouver. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer also takes part in art biennials and triennials in Havana, Istanbul, Liverpool, Montreal, Moscow, New Orleans, Seville, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney.

Urbane Künste Ruhr
Pulse Park marks the kick-off to Urbane Künste Ruhr, the newly installed programme pillar of the Kultur Ruhr GmbH. Apart from an annual contribution to the programme of the Ruhrtriennale, Urbane Künste Ruhr initiate, develop and coordinate, under the artistic direction of Katja Aßmann, art projects of national and international appeal. Evolved from the sustainability policies of the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010, Urbane Künste Ruhr develop together with art institutions and networks in the region future-oriented contents in the creative tension between urbanity and art.