ICARUS A340, 2025
Interactive light installation, photograph on foil, mirror, distance sensor, microcontroller, 44.5 × 34.5 cm
ICARUS A340 centers around an original aircraft window from a decommissioned Airbus A340—an aircraft formerly used for long-haul international flights. The installation engages with the myth of Icarus, often invoked as a reference point for human aspiration, technological ambition, and the desire to transcend natural boundaries. From a distance, the window functions as a mirror, reflecting both the surroundings and the presence of the viewer. As one approaches, the mirrored surface fades: an abstract, backlit seascape becomes visible. At the same time, the light intensity increases—brightening with proximity, then fading completely when the viewer steps away. The appearance of the sea references Icarus’s fall into the water, completing the arc of ascent and collapse. This interaction draws a parallel to the mythic trajectory: the closer Icarus flies to the sun, the stronger the light; with distance, it disappears. The installation creates a shifting field of perception between visibility and reflection, presence and absence. ICARUS A340 reflects on the tensions between technological control and limits, offering a space in which these dynamics can be experienced through light, movement, and transformation.
ICARUS A340, 2025
Interactive light installation, photograph on foil, mirror, distance sensor, microcontroller, 44.5 × 34.5 cm
ICARUS A340 centers around an original aircraft window from a decommissioned Airbus A340—an aircraft formerly used for long-haul international flights. The installation engages with the myth of Icarus, often invoked as a reference point for human aspiration, technological ambition, and the desire to transcend natural boundaries. From a distance, the window functions as a mirror, reflecting both the surroundings and the presence of the viewer. As one approaches, the mirrored surface fades: an abstract, backlit seascape becomes visible. At the same time, the light intensity increases—brightening with proximity, then fading completely when the viewer steps away. The appearance of the sea references Icarus’s fall into the water, completing the arc of ascent and collapse. This interaction draws a parallel to the mythic trajectory: the closer Icarus flies to the sun, the stronger the light; with distance, it disappears. The installation creates a shifting field of perception between visibility and reflection, presence and absence. ICARUS A340 reflects on the tensions between technological control and limits, offering a space in which these dynamics can be experienced through light, movement, and transformation.
© Laura Roth 2025
© Laura Roth 2025 | @laurother | info@rothlaura.com