PROXIMARE

Proximare: an orbital choreography of light and sound by Lumus Instruments 

At Geneve’s Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Lumus Instruments transforms architectural space into a dynamic system of attraction and distance, where light becomes narrative matter and movement generates ever-evolving sonic landscapes. 

Derived from the Latin word proximare — to come near, approach, or draw closer — the title of Lumus Instruments’ latest installation encapsulates the very essence of the work. Proximare is a reflection on the relationship between proximity and separation, a spatial composition that translates invisible forces of interaction into light and sound. 

Premiered at Geneva’s Mapping Festival and subsequently exhibited at the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, the installation takes the form of an immersive architectural intervention built around two rings of alternating dimensions. These circular trajectories serve as pathways for moving light sources, creating a kinetic structure suspended somewhere between celestial mechanics and contemporary choreography. 

The work unfolds as a system in constant transformation. Light sources travel along the rings while continuously shifting in altitude, rising and descending through the architectural space surrounding the balcony. Within this perpetual motion, the two orbits establish a dialogue of approach and withdrawal, attraction and repulsion. No actual contact ever occurs, yet it is precisely within this tension that the installation finds its expressive power. 

Relative distance becomes the work’s fundamental parameter. It shapes not only the visual composition but also its sonic dimension. Every variation in proximity generates an acoustic response that intertwines with the movement of light, creating an uninterrupted narrative. The result is a generative audiovisual landscape that never repeats itself in exactly the same way—a composition where time is measured through relationships rather than predetermined sequences. 

Proximare echoes key explorations from kinetic art and contemporary light art while reinterpreting them through a design-driven approach rooted in architecture and engineering. Rather than representing a phenomenon, the installation stages it. The principles of attraction, equilibrium and motion become compositional tools, transforming the exhibition space into a living, responsive organism. 

This attention to the relationship between structure, behavior and perception lies at the heart of Lumus Instruments’ practice. Founded and directed by Timo Lejeune and Julius Oosting, the multidisciplinary studio develops installations and scenographies that explore the expressive potential of light, sound and movement. 

The studio’s name reflects its creative philosophy. “Lumus” combines the Latin words lumen (light) and ludus (play), while “Instruments” emphasizes the founders’ ambition to conceive each work as a tool for exploration and interaction. These are not merely objects to be observed, but finely tuned devices designed to activate new modes of spatial perception. 

With Proximare, Lumus Instruments continues this investigation by creating an environment where technology and poetry coexist in delicate balance. A system of luminous orbits makes visible what often remains unseen: the constant tension between the desire to move closer and the necessity of maintaining distance. A universal condition translated into light, movement and sound, turning architecture into a sensitive narrative of relationships.

Credits:

Proximare by Lumus Instruments @lumus.instruments 

Concept and realization by Timo Lejeune (@timo_lejeune) and Julius Oosting (@juliusoosting)  

Engineering by Sem van Wieren (@komposittt)  

Sound by Max Frimout (@maxfrimout)  

On-site crew  

Timo Lejeune (@timo_lejeune)  

Sem van Wieren (@komposittt)  

Pepijn de Jong (@pepdejong)  

Studio team  

Madelief Kok (@madeliefkok)  

Livia Nagy (@nlrlivia)  

Software TouchDeisgner (@touchdesigner) and SuperCollider