DRIFT’s Immersive Installations reconnect humanity to the environment
DRIFT was founded in 2007 by the Dutch artist duo Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta after they met each other during their studies at Design Academy Eindhoven. Today the pair have developed experiential sculptures, installations, and performances with a multi-disciplinary team of sixty-four and a studio in Amsterdam and New York. Through their artistic experiments, DRIFT fascinatingly manifests nature's phenomena and hidden properties using technology to learn from the Earth’s underlying mechanisms and re-establish our connection.
DRIFT’s Studio Communal Area. Photo by Beatrice Gallello.
DRIFT’s Amsterdam studio is the temple of the Dutch artist duo. Within the space, it is possible to embrace the artists’ mission and fully reconnect with nature. Inside, a warm atmosphere surrounds the different areas of the team’s daily-working life. During a recent visit, artist Ruby Houwer showed the creation and assembly process of Fragile Future. Those currently on display have been designed by Lonneke as her dissertation project in Eindhoven with the core idea of exploring the relationship between nature and technology. These types of sculptures are prime examples of DRIFT's signature style.
The installation's story begins with capturing the fragility of natural phenomena, such as the seeds of a dandelion, and transforming it into a durable yet delicate artwork. DRIFT was inspired by the idea of “future archaeology” and consequently wanted to create a work that would endure the test of time. The hundreds of dandelion heads, gathered every year between April and May in the countryside of the Netherlands, are then attached to a copper-coloured grid and pasted to LED lights. To finalise the installation, DRIFT used a 3D scanner to capture the intricacies of a dandelion seed and then transformed the data into a digital design. The design was then cast in bronze and fitted with LED lights that mimic the appearance of the seed's filaments. The result is a series of luminous sculptures suspended from the ceiling and floating in the air, creating an ethereal and otherworldly atmosphere. In addition, the LED lights flicker and pulse, creating a hypnotic effect that draws the viewer in.
Hence, the sophisticated process and the delicate manual ability required to create Fragile Future softly manifest the group’s desire to take a distance from mass production and throwaway culture to propose a reconnection between humans and nature through the creation of manufactured works, in which man’s impacts are evident.
Working Process of Fragile Future. Photo by Beatrice Gallello.
In a world that goes at a very high speed and constantly needs quantitative (instead of qualitative) performances, DRIFT wants to offer a new interpretation of the world and its future by working at the intersection of nature and technology. They do so by blurring the lines between the two, as James Bridle also intends. Hence, light becomes a tangible material that functions as both an allegorical and symbolic element to communicate its primary function as the source of life. Additionally, the dandelion seeds represent the fast pace of technological evolution, which is quicker than the evolution of nature and its rhythms.
Amsterdam Soho House Hall hosting Fragile Future. Photo by Beatrice Gallello.
With both depth and simplicity, DRIFT’s works of art illuminate parallels between artificial and natural structures through deconstructive, interactive, and innovative processes. The artists raise fundamental questions about what life is and explore an optimistic scenario for the future. All individual artworks can transform spaces. The confined parameters of a museum or a gallery do not always do justice to a body of work; instead, it often comes to its potential in the public sphere or through architecture. DRIFT simultaneously brings people, space, and nature, uniting audiences with experiences that inspire a reconnection to our planet.
DRIFT has created several open-air projects that bring their unique blend of art, technology, and nature to outdoor spaces. One notable example is Franchise Freedom, a performative artwork that involves a swarm of autonomous drones that fly in choreographed patterns, creating a stunning aerial display. The project was first unveiled in 2017, celebrating the city of Amsterdam's Light Festival, as a collaboration between DRIFT and drone manufacturer Intel. Franchise Freedom involved a swarm of 300 drones that flew in formation over the city's canals. The drones were programmed to mimic the movements of a flock of birds, creating a mesmerising display showcasing nature's beauty and elegance. In addition, the drones were fitted with LED lights that changed colour, creating a dynamic and immersive experience for viewers.
Since its debut, the project has been performed in several locations around the world, including Miami, Abu Dhabi, and Amsterdam. In each new space, the project has evolved with DRIFT incorporating new technologies and techniques to enhance the visual impact of the display. In addition to Franchise Freedom, DRIFT has created other open-air projects to demonstrate its commitment to exploring the relationship between art, technology, and nature and its ability to create immersive and thought-provoking experiences for viewers.
DRIFT, Franchise Freedom, 2017. Photo Courtesy of Pace Gallery.
As DRIFT continues to explore the intersection of art, technology, and nature, it is clear that their work will play an important role in shaping our understanding of the future. By creating installations that capture the fragility of natural phenomena and fuse it with cutting-edge technology, DRIFT invites us to contemplate our relationship with the environment and our responsibility to preserve it.
DRIFT's future developments promise to be even more groundbreaking and impactful. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, they are committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible and creating artworks that inspire awe and wonder. As we navigate the challenges of the 21st century, DRIFT reminds us of the power of art to shape our perceptions, challenge our assumptions, and inspire us to create a better world. Their work is a testament to the beauty and resilience of nature and a call to action for us all to preserve it for generations to come.
Bibliography:
Ingels, Bjarke, Beatrice Leanza, William Myers, et al. DRIFT, Choreographing the Future. Berlin: Phaidon, 2022.
Beatrice Gallello
En Plein Air Editor, MADE IN BED