Yadegar Asisi

AMAZONIA

The Fascination of the Tropical Rainforest

AMAZONIA is artist Yadegar Asisi’s hyperrealistic interpretation of the diverse geological creations that make up the tropical rainforest, depicted in an incredible level of detail. The cylindrical Panorama takes visitors on a journey through mountainous rainforests and river valleys, clearings and stretches of water, giant trees and an open canyon. From the middle of a dense green cosmos, a variety of exotic inhabitants slowly emerge from the environment, such as vibrantly coloured carnivorous plants, colonies of giant ants and indigenous populations hunting.

Asisi journeyed to the Amazon four times in order to take in the genius loci and develop the concept for the rainforest Panorama, resulting in tens of thousands of photos and countless sketches and watercolours that were used to create the artwork. The immeasurable diversity of the tropics and the complex symbiotic mechanisms of the ecosystem were a central motivation for Asisi. Visitors are immersed in the foreign world of the jungle – aided by a light installation that simulates day and night as well as a cascade of sounds composed especially for the exhibition by Eric Babak.

Past exhibition locations of AMAZONIA

PANOMETER LEIPZIG
2009 – 2013

PANORAMA XXL (Rouen, F)
2015 / 2016, 2019

PANORAMA AM ZOO (Hanover)
2017 – 2020

 

Publication

The richly illustrated accompanying book for the AMAZONIA panorama takes readers on an expedition through the Amazon rainforest. Yadegar Asisi developed the first design ideas while conducting research in Brazil, as he discusses in the interview.

Panorama music and soundscape by Eric Babak

From the pilot project EVEREST onwards, Yadegar Asisi is collaborating with the well-known composer and pianist Eric Babak. In close collaboration between the two artists, the impressive soundscape of the panoramas is harmonized directly in the exhibition space with the lighting patterns to create an atmospheric overall installation. Depending on the project, the productions use, among other things, large orchestras and choirs, but also minimalist synthesizer sounds in combination with everyday noises to make the special atmosphere of the themes audible and tangible in the constant change of panorama sequences.

www.ericbabak.com