HeHe disturbed the idyll of the medieval city of Bruges. Undercurrent triggers a visual and auditory shock wave in an environment where nothing indicates that such a thing as an industrial or technological revolution ever occurred. The size of the steel structure contrasts with the small-scale of the buildings around it. Around the pylon, you can hear the electrical hum, hiss, tick and crackle. Cables float on the water. When it's dark they emit flashes of light.
The floating pylon also prompts reflection. It questions energy supply, light and noise pollution, changing energy needs and the demand for cities to be sustainable. The high-voltage pylon is a symbol of progress and collective energy. Does the fallen pylon refer to the end of utopian aspirations or to wasting energy? At the same time, this installation underlines the inevitability of signs of technology floating to the surface - even in a city that is operated as a shiny, historical oasis.
HeHe
The British-German art collective HeHe consists of Helen Evans (b. 1972, Welwyn Garden City, UK) and Heiko Hansen (b. 1970, Pinneberg, DE). They are based in Paris. HeHe explores the ‘undesired needs’ of people : health, security, communication, energy and the environment.