gijs van vaerenbergh creates ‘skylight’, a slowly turning luminescent urban installation for martelarenplein, leuven, belgium. positioned near the flemish city’s busy railway station, the artist’s work sheds light upon visitors of the public space through both the day and night. the piece is comprised of sixteen lighting components attached to the downward facing scaffolding of a towering work crane which is also being employed in the construction of the music center for leuven, ‘het depot‘. the massive street lamp brights about a bright white glow cast upon structures  and people within the circumference of the pivoting artwork. gijs van vaerenbergh’s ‘skylight’ brings to the city a new landmark during the art festival kulturama.

pivoting crane lamp by gijs van vaerenbergh creates 'skylight' in belgium
the slowly moving artwork illuminates the ground below in a bright white glow
main image © jeroen verrecht, all images courtesy the artist

pivoting crane lamp by gijs van vaerenbergh creates 'skylight' in belgium
‘skylight’ is comprised of sixteen light components attached to a pivoting crane

pivoting crane lamp by gijs van vaerenbergh creates 'skylight' in belgium
a perspective of the work at night

pivoting crane lamp by gijs van vaerenbergh creates 'skylight' in belgium
‘skylight’ on a cloudy day in leuven, belgium

pivoting crane lamp by gijs van vaerenbergh creates 'skylight' in belgium
the newly constructed work

pivoting crane lamp by gijs van vaerenbergh creates 'skylight' in belgium
necessary tools for the construction of the urban lighting installation

pivoting crane lamp by gijs van vaerenbergh creates 'skylight' in belgium
left: picturing the construction of the work
right: the lighting segments were sent to the artist in sixteen packages

pivoting crane lamp by gijs van vaerenbergh creates 'skylight' in belgium
a perspective of the work from the metal scaffolding upon which the lamps are attached

pivoting crane lamp by gijs van vaerenbergh creates 'skylight' in belgium
two workers putting in place the lighting fixtures

pivoting crane lamp by gijs van vaerenbergh creates 'skylight' in belgium
alternate construction perspective of the piece


‘skylight’ by gijs van vaerenbergh