3 V
site specific installation · aluminium, acrylic glass, thermoelectric generator, electronics, LEDs, tea candles, steel chain

An otherwise closed pedestrian tunnel leading to Münster Palace is open to the public during Skulptur Projekte. Five candle-powered LED chandeliers light up the dark concrete tunnel. Each chandelier consists of ten LED tea-candle reading lamps mounted on an aluminum ring. With the help of the thermoelectric effect, the heat of the candles is converted directly into 3V electricity to power the LED lamps. The bright and cold LED light contrasts with the warm flicker of classic candlelight. Twice a day (every five hours), a guard replaces the melted candles. 3V is one of three works which were commissioned and produced by Skulptur Projekte Münster. Each of these different site-specific works incorporates thermoelectric technology.

5 V
site specific installation · campfire, wood, steel, thermoelectric generator, cables, electronics

Skulptur Projekte visitors are invited to charge their phones over a campfire at the Pumpenhaus Münster. In the tradition of stick bread making (Germany) and cooking sausages over the flames, custom-made charger sticks produce 5V electricity
with the help of the thermoelectric effect of the heat of the fire—enough to charge the average smartphone. As long as the thermo generator attached to the end of the stick is exposed to the flames, it generates power. Phones can be plugged into the sticks via a multi-plug charging cable. Visitors gather around the warmth of the fire, charge their phones, and have a chat. 5V is one of three works which were commissioned and produced by Skulptur Projekte Münster.

12 V
site specific installation · router, camping stove, thermoelectric generator, cable, electronics, software, database

A standard home router hangs parasitically right next to commercial mobile phone antennas on the Münster TV tower. Vistors are invited to connect to this router with their phones. The router serves no Internet connectinon but offers a large database of PDF tutorials on ‘How to live an offline life’. A thermo generator sitting on a small camping stove nearby provides 12-volt electricity to power the router, which is connected via a 70-meter long orange cable. While Deutsche Telekom maintains one of its three large data centers right next to the TV tower, the site-specific installation 12V is totally independent of power lines or Internet connection. Users can download and also upload files. Connections cannot be traced or monitored by third parties on the Internet. The tower, a retro-looking building for long-range TV broadcasts before the Internet, becomes a historic sculpture in itself.

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