Borealis is a natural phenomenon—why did you choose to create a manmade replica of that?
Climate breakdown is a subject that I work on. Borealis is about our ancestral communion with nature and our more recent compulsion to dominate and control it. It’s about having a shared experience in the centre of a city by creating something magical—but something that wouldn’t naturally be here.

What is the message of Borealis?
I feel the only way we’ll be able to face our challenges as humans is if we’re able to get back a sense of belonging in the global community. With Borealis, whatever your identity, age, origin or belief, it’s all put aside. We’re just here together sharing a beautiful experience.

Moreover, as an artist, I’m interested in situations where there’s a before and an after, when something clicks within us and changes, and when you feel like you belong to something that is greater than your individual self.

When staging an outdoor installation like this, you can’t control external factors such as wind and temperature. Does it bother you?
I’m interested in the emotions my work evokes or the experiences you get out of it. Though Borealis is as much about art as it is about technology, the latter isn’t so important to me. What I find beautiful about Borealis is that it requires some letting go: I can’t control the effect—I can only create the right [conditions] for it. At the end of the day, the wind, temperature and humidity are the elements that come together to create infinite variations.

Where has this installation been exhibited?
Borealis has toured in over 30 cities around the world, including Sydney, London, Paris and Boston.

Are there regional differences when staging the installation in different places?
While my work can take different shapes and meanings depending on where it’s shown, Borealis taps into a globally shared fascination for the northern lights. The technical aspects have to be adapted to each location, but each time, I try to recreate the same universal experience.

Which was the most challenging place where Borealis was installed?
The most challenging and special location was the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in Finland. The space, the extreme temperatures and the luminosity of the snow all made it magical.

What do you expect from this Hong Kong installation?
My team and I always enjoy seeing visuals and reactions on social media as the event unfolds.

From February 13 to March 5, 2023. Great Lawn, Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District

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