Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig shows from 31. January 2025 the exhibition ORIGINS: Life’s Epic Journey. Under the artistic direction of Markos Kay and in collaboration with renowned digital artists including Zeitguised, Nervous System, Kling Klang Klong, Martin Salfity, Davy Evans, Susie Sie and many more, this groundbreaking exhibition combines cutting-edge technology to create an artistic exploration of the origins of life. Techniques such as 3D design, artificial intelligence and macroscopic analogue photography come together to unlock the secrets of our existence. Science, art and technology merge to create a unique experience on display in Leipzig for six months.
Image above: Origins, Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig, 2024, Fotograf: Luca Migliore, © Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig.
The Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig, known as a pioneer of digital art and immersive experiences, invites visitors on a fascinating journey of discovery with its latest production and exhibition ‚ORIGINS – Life’s Epic Journey‘. The world premiere of the show takes place in the impressive halls of the Kunstkraftwerk and is a combination of digital art, technology and science.
Leading digital artists from around the world come together for the first time to create a collaborative artistic narrative about our existence of life
A visual and emotional reinterpretation of the origins of life
Instead of the often prosaic scientific presentation, ORIGINS focuses on the artistic imagination: visitors are immersed in surreal, often dreamlike visual worlds that make the powerful elemental forces and the magic of our planet‘s beginnings tangible. The exhibition offers a multimedia tour through a total of eigth rooms that brings contemporary digital art to life. From the outset, spectators are immersed in the scientific background that explains the origins of our life and creates a fundamental understanding of this fascinating subject. In the following video gallery, a selection of special digital artworks gives a first visual impression of the reinterpretation of the story of our origins, before the journey through the venue of the Kunstkraftwerk continues.
The history of life unfolds in four chapters, from the creation of the universe to the emergence of first life forms on Earth. A light and sound installation by renowned sound studio Kling Klang Klong allows visitors to physically experience the immeasurable depth and vastness of a black hole
Studio Zeitguised brings visually the pulsating dynamics of our early landscape to life, while the renowned studio Nervous System has recreated the delicate beauty of the earliest life forms, such as radiolarians, in precise 3D models. Kunstkraftwerk had these models printed in three dimensions in the highest quality, making the fascinating elegance of the first biological structures impressively visible. Another highlight is Alchemy Immersive‘s FIRST LIFE virtual reality experience, in which Sir David Attenborough takes visitors on an expedition 3.5 billion years into the past. Based on palaeontological research and the latest CGI technology, the evolution from single-celled organisms to the first predators is brought to life.
The centre piece of the exhibition is the immersive experience ‚ORIGINS – Life‘s Epic Journey‘ in the monumental main hall of the Kunstkraftwerk. Under the artistic direction of Markos Kay, an extraordinary creative collaboration is being forged with a line-up of renowned contemporary digital artists including Martin Salfity, Davy Evans, Thomas Vanz, Gokhan Tekin (aka Koko_3d), Teun van der Zalm, Susi Sie, Jesse Solomon Clark as Sound Composer, Roman Hill and Markos Kay himself. This remarkable multisensory experience takes visitors on a fascinating journey into the mysterious power and beauty of the universe and our own existence on planet Earth.
“With ORIGINS, we want to take visitors on a journey through time that is both emotionally moving and intellectually inspiring. Our goal is to spark both wonder and reflection about the beauty and fragility of the nature and remind us all of our role in sustaining our planet.” – Paolo Löffler, Director of Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig
Art and technology in an unexpected alliance
ORIGINS offers a new kind of exhibition experience: The immersive experience is enabled by newest technologies and combines realistic visuals with immersive soundscapes and special effects to create a compelling 360-degree experience. The visual experience uses multimedia techniques including analogue and macro photography, AI-based generative art and 3D design. This allows the various scenes to be depicted in fascinating detail, creating an unforgettable atmosphere where artistic imagination goes hand in hand with technical precision.
About the artistic director
Markos R. Kay (*1984, Cyprus) is a multidisciplinary artist known for his work at the intersection of art, science and generative art. His works have been exhibited internationally, including at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore, Ars Electronica in Austria, the Virtual Museum of Contemporary Digital Art, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum in the USA and many more. They have also been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Wired and VICE.
In his artistic practice, he explores complex scientific topics such as molecular biology and particle physics. He has worked with prestigious institutions and companies such as MIT, Apple, Nike and Warner Bros. and taught at leading universities such as the London College of Communication. Kay‘s art combines digital abstraction with science and makes innovative research visually accessible.
WHEN?
Exhibition period: Friday, 31. January until Sunday, 29. June 2025
Opening hours: Thursday – Sunday + holidays: 10 am until 6.30 pm
WHERE?
Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig
Saalfelder Straße 8b
04179 Leipzig
