Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Sustainable Development Art at Wolubilis Cultural Center

From 9th till 11th of November 2012, the Sustainable Development Festival was organized at the Wolubilis Cultural Center in Brussels. You may have seen this poster to announce this event: 

solar-art-atwolubilis-cultural-center-with-artist-alexandre-dang
Poster for the Sustainable Development Festival


On this occasion, an installation of Dancing Solar Flowers has been set up: indeed, in a certain sense, the Dancing Solar Flowers embody an eco-friendly dimension. They function thanks to the light (artificial or natural) and hence raise awareness on the potential of environmental friendly technologies:  people's first reaction is to wonder how it works. Here is the installation of solar art, the Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers: 

dancing-solar-flower-or-flowers-for-sustainable-development-art-and-solar-art-by-alexandre-dang-跳舞太阳能花-艺术家亚历山大黨-可持续发展-可太阳能艺术-可再生能源-可太阳
Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers by Alexandre Dang


The Dancing Solar Flowers were moving, even if with the dull weather of the week-end! It was hard work to try and make some nice pictures of the artwork due to the lightning conditions. On the other hand, it allowed good awareness on the potential of solar electricity. Indeed, a lot of people asked how the flowers could move even in the absence of direct sunlight. The answer is very simple to understand: in Belgium, on a dull day, the sun is still in the sky and its light goes through the clouds. That's why the Dancing Solar Flowers dance everyday and why solar electricity is an alternative to traditional electricity. With this picture, you're going to see the sun in the clouds and sustainable development art: 

dancing-solar-flower-or-flowers-for-sustainable-development-art-and-solar-art-by-alexandre-dang-跳舞太阳能花-艺术家亚历山大黨-可持续发展-可太阳能艺术-可再生能源-可太阳
Dancing Solar Flowers and the Sun through the clouds


In parallel with this exhibition of solar art, creative workshop for children were organized. The children have a sample of "Fill in your own pattern" edition in order to create their own Dancing Solar Flower! So, they cut the outline that they have chosen (flower, sun, cat, butterfly, heart), they color it with the pattern they want to realize. Then the pattern can be fixed on the solar engine. It is important to raise awareness of the children, because they are the future of the world and they will have to take the good decisions to tackle global warming. 

make-your-own-dancing-solar-flower-fror-solar-art-with-alexandre-dang
Creative Workshop: make your own Dancing Solar Flower from the edition "Fill in your own pattern"


The rest of the festival was very interesting too with conferences on sustainable development and global warming, documentaries about renewable energy, electric cars which were used in some adventures to highlight the potential of solar energy. 
Finally, I would like to thank the team of the Wolubilis Cultural Center for their help during this week-end. This place is definitely worth visiting. The windows are very original and very nice: see it in the background of the following picture behind the Dancing Solar Flowers

dancing-solar-flower-or-flowers-for-sustainable-development-art-and-solar-art-by-alexandre-dang-跳舞太阳能花-艺术家亚历山大黨-可持续发展-可太阳能艺术-可再生能源-可太阳
Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers at Wolubilis Cultural Center


Keep in touch with sustainable development art and Dancing Solar Flowers on: 
- My website: http://alexandredang.com
- My vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/alexandredang

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Singapour Art Museum 2012

Hi everybody!

In this post, I let you discover the exhibition Art Garden where I exhibited one of my installations of my sustainable solar art. Indeed, I set up a Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers on the front of the building of the museum.

dancing-solar-flower-or-flowers-for-sustainable-development-art-and-solar-art-by-alexandre-dang-跳舞太阳能花-艺术家亚历山大黨-可持续发展-可太阳能艺术-可再生能源-可太阳
Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers by Alexandre Dang

To see my kinetic solar art better, I've got videos of the exhibition! So, let's begin with the first video (don't forget to watch it in HD). This video is very simple and allows you to perfectly see the motion of each Dancing Solar Flower. Hope you'll enjoy!






To continue with this exhibition, let's watch people's reaction. How do they interact with my Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers? The answer is in the next video.






Following those two broad videos about the exhibition and the public, go into details of the interaction between the public and my Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers and you're going to see some specific attitudes
I already told you that each Dancing Solar Flower had a photovoltaïc cell, therefore, the more there was light, the faster it swang/danced. So, let's see what happens when someone hides the solar panel of one of them, even with a tablet computer!






The second attitude is very special in front of an artwork. Indeed, people take pictures in front of the Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers, even though it is generally prohibited in museums! But, of course, don't worry, Dancing Solar Flowers don't fear the light. It's quite the opposite! You can even put the flash on! Let's watch this video.






Last but not least: the attitude in front of the Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers is a game of imitation. And what if you were a Dancing Solar Flower, shaking your head from the left to the right? It seems to be the dream of many people, as you're going to see it in the next video.






The concept of the last video is very simple. It's the best of this exhibition Art Garden with my Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers at the Singapore Art Museum. You'll find the best moments of the previous videos and some special bonuses.






I hope you enjoyed all those videos, you can find them and others videos on my youtube account. See you soon for others Dancing Solar Flowers!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Dancing Solar Flowers at the Sablon, in the heart of Brussels

Dancing Solar Flower, Dancing Solar Flower, Dancing Solar Flower... hundreds of Dancing Solar Flowers have pacifically invaded the Place du Grand Sablon in Brussels from May 25th until June 25th 2012.

In the frame of the Exhibition "Hymne à la Vie", organized at the Sablon, every Dancing Solar Flower has been the symbol of every children prematurely died, but also a message of hope for a better future for everyone.
The exhibition aimed at raising awareness on children in distress then promoting the 103, the new French community free help number.

Quite all the shops of the square have welcomed in their windows an installation of solar art with the Dancing Solar Flowers.

dancing-solar-flower-or-flowers-for-sustainable-development-art-and-solar-art-by-alexandre-dang-跳舞太阳能花-艺术家亚历山大黨-可持续发展-可太阳能艺术-可再生能源-可太阳
Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers at the Sablon

All united for the wellbeing of our children...because children are the future!


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Exhibition in Spa


Spring is also time for day trips and pic-nics… we didn’t have a pic-nic but we drove from Brussels to Spa to install an exhibition at the Galerie Azur.
The exhibition was welcomed enthusiastically by citizens whom, already during the setting-up, where asking for more information about solar art and stopped watching the team at work. 


dancing-solar-flower-or-flowers-for-sustainable-development-art-and-solar-art-by-alexandre-dang-跳舞太阳能花-艺术家亚历山大黨-可持续发展-可太阳能艺术-可再生能源-可太阳
Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers at SPA

The exhibition was seen by thousands of people during the Francofolies, one of the most important French Music Festival in Europe!

Friday, July 20, 2012

EU Sustainable Energy Week and Solar Art Conference


Et voilà! Another flash-back comes…
The EU Sustainable Energy Week 2012 was an interesting time for us with the organization of both a significant exhibition and a conference about Solar Art.
A Field of Solar Turning Sunflowers was exhibited at the heart of the European Commission, the Berlaymont Piazza: this was realized in collaboration with the NGOs Solar Solidarity International and Europe Third World.
An intervention by the EU Commissioner Piebalgs closed the exhibition: this was the occasion to highlight key messages about the EU energy policy and about World Summit “Rio+20”.

dancing-solar-flower-or-flowers-for-sustainable-development-art-and-solar-art-by-alexandre-dang-跳舞太阳能花-艺术家亚历山大黨-可持续发展-可太阳能艺术-可再生能源-可太阳
Field of Turning Solar Sunflowers

The conference on Solar Art, organized by Solar Solidarity in collaboration with Solar Artworks Project, addressed the issue of the integration of sustainable and clean energy creations inside cities of the future.
The panel was composed by Nacho Zamora (Solar Artworks), Eleonora Nicoletti (Loop Ph), Drzach &Suchy and I.  A quite large audience followed the conference with interest, asking questions and participating to the debate. 


Do not forget, EU Sustainable Energy Week is a yearly event J…I look forward to see you there in 2013!


Friday, July 13, 2012

Back on track!


It is long time since the last post. What an incredibly busy periods are Spring and Summer!
Let’s make a short summary of the last period…are you ready? We will start from the end: the exhibition at Couleur Café.
Couleur Café is one of the biggest festivals in Belgium and gathered more than 70.000 people this year. The expo “Cool Art Café” was dedicated to the relationship between Mankind and Nature and to sustainable development: “Nature, je t’aime, moi non plus” was its title. 


dancing-solar-flower-or-flowers-for-sustainable-development-art-and-solar-art-by-alexandre-dang-跳舞太阳能花-艺术家亚历山大黨-可持续发展-可太阳能艺术-可再生能源-可太阳
Field of Dancing Solar Flowers at Couleur Café Festival

Solar Art contributes to the change towards sustainable development which seems to be necessary to reestablish certain equilibrium between the human exploitation and the ecosystem: a “Field of Dancing Solar Flowers" was rocking full of joy and energy in this colorful atmosphere hence bringing optimism and hope for the future. 

Thursday, April 26, 2012

About my solar art creations and their purposes


Hello everyone!
Is sun shining at your place? Being honest, sun doesn't shine often here in Brussels but still, in my studio, everything is always on the move!
Even if you don’t see it...sun is always there, providing energy to the Planet Earth and to my solar art creations of course... :)

You are probably wondering on which consist my creations…
I'm mostly known thanks to my "Dancing Solar Flower”, consisting of an engine running by means of a solar cell and to which a paper flower head is applied. The solar cell converts light into electricity that powers the engine and enables the flower to move as long as there is light.

dancing-solar-flower-for-sustainable-development-art-and-solar-art-by-alexandre-dang-跳舞太阳能花-艺术家亚历山大黨-可持续发展-可太阳能艺术-可再生能源-可太阳
Dancing Solar Flower


Why flowers?
Actually, lot of patterns exists, but flowers have a special signification to me: with their colours and fragrances they are able to bring a wave of joy also in the most difficult situations.
I want to diffuse a message of hope about our society and about the future of our planet.
As the Planet Heart and the Sun appartain to the entire humanity, also my solar art wants to be accessible and understandable to the widest possible audience.
No language neither education barriers will prevent someone to understand flowers and sun power! An example?! Have a look at the Singapore Art Museum website...http://www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/exhibitions/upcoming.php :) my Dancing Solar Flowers will be exhibited there from 18 May 2012 to 12 August 2012.

dancing-solar-flower-or-flowers-for-sustainable-development-art-and-solar-art-by-alexandre-dang-at-singapore-art-museum-跳舞太阳能花-艺术家亚历山大黨-可持续发展-可太阳能艺术-可再生能源-可太阳
Poster of the exhibition Art Garden at the Singapore Art Museum



With my Dancing Solar Flowers I both create Fields and Vertical Gardens, as you can see in pictures below...

dancing-solar-flower-or-flowers-for-sustainable-development-art-and-solar-art-by-alexandre-dang-跳舞太阳能花-艺术家亚历山大黨-可持续发展-可太阳能艺术-可再生能源-可太阳
Field of Dancing Solar Sunflowers at Balt'Art exhibition


dancing-solar-flower-or-flowers-for-sustainable-development-art-and-solar-art-by-alexandre-dang-跳舞太阳能花-艺术家亚历山大黨-可持续发展-可太阳能艺术-可再生能源-可太阳
Vertical Garden of Dancing Solar Flowers at the Singapore Art Museum

Children are always curious about my creations: of course, they are attracted by colors and movement but then, as normal, they start asking tons of questions...that's what I wish! 
I really wish people to ask questions and to interrogate themselves about renewable energies and the future of our planet! Everyone should think about it, because the Planet Earth belongs to everyone and everyone needs to take care about it!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Solar energy, art and developing world: little introduction about myself


Et voilà, here I am! The blog is ready, a new exciting experience to present my solar art creations and, of course, some information about solar and sustainable energies.

My name is Alexandre, I’m French and I've been living and working in Belgium for about 10 years. Having an engineering background, I like to define myself as an artist-engineer...wired?! No, come on...only think about Leonardo da Vinci: he was a scientist applying his studies to art...of course I don’t want to compare myself to a genius as Leonardo Da Vinci...perish the thought! But the concrete idea is not that different, isn't it? ;) 

My work combines aesthetics to solar energy…it’s called SOLAR ART!

But let’s have a better perspective on the situation…
During your studies you have probably learnt that the sun is the star shining at the center of Solar System and consisting of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields. But you also learnt that flowers need sun to be able to make the photosynthesis and that humans need solar light to grow strong and to not get depressed...
Sun makes you willing to live, Sun provides energy...SUN BRINGS LIFE! 



The question is: do we really use the energetic potential of the Sun? Mostly not! Even if the sun provides 10,000 times more energy to the earth than humans need, more than 1.7 billion people still do not have access to electricity. A more intensive use of solar energy will help providing electricity and basic services to people who still need it!The pressing need to address this issue is the driving force of my artistic and humanitarian commitment: that's why all the rights of my artworks are donated to the NGO Solar Solidarity, that I have co-founded in 2006.

Solar-Solidarity-International-is-an-NGO-created-by-Alexandre-Dang

This NGO has two main objectives:
1. Raise awareness of the potential of renewable sources of energy (particularly the sun);
2. Raise funds to support humanitarian project using renewable and solar photovoltaic technology to provide energy to the developing world.



Solar Solidarity has already supported some nice solar electrification projects, mostly in Africa, but there is still lot to do! To give electricity means to provide a better life style to people and to enable hospitals to work also at night and to conserve medicines and vaccines. It also means a better education for people and the possibility to be connected with the rest of the world thanks to the web. 
There are lots of ways to sustain the developing world and that’s the one I choose: it is green, it is sustainable and it will provide energy for free! 
And you, what do you think about green and sustainable energies? 

If you want to know more about Solar Solidarity: www.solarsolidarity.org

Talk to you soon!
Alexandre