Nils Voelker is an unusual and fascinating artist who transforms technology into art. He has studied visual communication and has very intelligently used this education to become one-of-a-kind artist who uses physical computing to work on projects like 'One Hundred And Eight'. An interactive wall installation consisting 108 garbage bags, that are inflated and deflated through 216 computer controlled CPU cooling fans. 

To learn more about this project, read Nils interview below where he talks about his other equally intriguing projects as well. 

Nils, please introduce yourself to E-junkies.

I'm an artist, working and experimenting in the fields of physical computing somewhere at the intersection of technology, design and art.

Enlighten us with your spectacular artwork. What it is all about?

Maybe: I don't know either.

Or maybe: I just can't describe it in just a few words.

Or probably: I do actually prefer leaving any kind of sense or meanings of my artwork open to the viewers. Just because I really like to see what others interpret into it which is quite often something I haven't had in mind when working on it.

What motivates/influence the artist within you?

The question about the motivation is quite simple to answer: Basically I'm just having a whole lot of fun, dealing with such abstract things like electronics, programming and math to come up with very concrete and sometimes weird things that move, glow, make sounds ...

Concerning the influence: As for everybody else it probably could be anything at any time . But such things like hardware and electronics stores can be pretty influencing too.

Tell us about your most recent project 'Variations on Pi'. The paintings look beautiful. Tell us about the technique behind it.

"Variations on Pi" is a limited edition of 50 unique light paintings. Each one of these paintings is based on a different range of consecutive decimal places of the number pi (3,14159... the mathematical constant which is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter).

Whilst a little Machine on wheels, equipped with 16 LEDs, moves around a time exposure photo is taken right from above. The digits of the number pi define where the machine moves to, starting to spin around to draw a circle. But also the amount of circles, the colors and angles are defined only by the digits. So all together 3861 decimal places were used to create the whole edition.

I am really amazed by 'one hundred and eight' installations- a splendid project by you. I am keen to know everything about it.

The installation "One Hundred and Eight" is an interactive wall-mounted Installation mainly made out of ordinary garbage bags and computer fans. Controlled by a micro-controller each of them is selectively inflated and deflated in turn by two cooling fans.

Although each plastic bag is mounted stationary the sequences of inflation and deflation create the impression of a movement. But as soon a viewer comes close it instantly reacts by drawing back and tentatively following the movements of the observer. As long as he remains in a certain area in front of the installation it dynamically reacts to the viewers motion. As soon it does no longer detect someone close it reorganizes itself after a while and gently restarts wobbling around.

In early 2010, you also created a machine. Tell us more about it?

This machine was built to produce large scale artworks based on the sound of car engines. We've placed a microphone in a normal car, close to the motor while driving along certain routes in Berlin like the Allee der Kosmonauten or Unter den Linden. Right afterwards we drove the same routes with an electric vehicle.

The sound of the combustion motor has then been drawn with its own engine oil on large canvas and the sound of the electric engine has been drawn with the vehicles backlight on long exposure photos. The frequencies and level information defined the angles, lengths and colors.

The whole project has been published in the spring issue of the Intersection Magazine Germany and the artworks have been exhibited at the Smart Urban Stage in Berlin.

Currently, what are you working on?

Right now I'm working on an installation using several computer controlled and light reflecting mirrors and I'm developing a pretty huge installation for an exhibition here in Berlin.


Thanks Nils for taking the time for this wonderful interview, we wish you the very best for your upcoming exhibition in Berlin and will eagerly look forward to your future projects. 


Visit Nils Voelker's website for more information.


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