Renowned artist Alexandre de Betak has once again pushed artistic boundaries with his latest creation, "Chashitsu Hikari Schürli," a profound light installation exhibited in a historic Swiss barn. This work, presented during the prestigious Gstaad Art Week, is a testament to Betak's ongoing exploration of immaterial artistic architectures, transforming a vernacular structure into a contemplative space where light becomes the very essence of perception.
Alexandre de Betak's Luminous Dialogue in the Bernese Oberland
In the picturesque Bernese Oberland, amidst the tranquil grandeur of the Swiss Alps, French artist Alexandre de Betak introduced his latest visionary project, "Chashitsu Hikari Schürli," during the vibrant Gstaad Art Week. This innovative light installation is meticulously housed within an authentic Swiss barn, a structure typically characterized by its raw timber and utilitarian design. Betak's genius lies in his ability to harness light as a fundamental building material, shaping the barn's interior into an extraordinary perceptual realm. Through calculated reflections, intentional voids, and precise modulation, he subtly unveils the inherent spatial conditions of the rural edifice, reimagining it as an environment deeply influenced by shadow play, mirrored surfaces, and fluid movement. This concept eloquently bridges two seemingly disparate architectural forms: the humble Swiss 'schürli' (a small Alpine farm shed) and the highly formalized Japanese 'chashitsu' (a tea ceremony space). Despite their vast geographical and cultural differences, both share a philosophy of resourcefulness, material integrity, and a design logic rooted in ritual, climate, and disciplined restraint. Betak's work does not merely imitate either form but rather distills their common sensibilities, employing light as the crucial element that facilitates this cross-cultural artistic conversation. The installation spans two levels of the barn, integrating its existing structural elements into the visitor's experience. Mirrors strategically fragment and extend the architecture, creating a mesmerizing interplay of light and space. Both natural and reflected light collaborate to disorient perceptions of depth and orientation, inviting observers to ascend and traverse the space as surfaces seemingly dissolve, volumes expand, and boundaries become transient. Reflection, in this context, serves as a powerful conceptual tool, weaving together notions of memory, presence, and impermanence within the very act of viewing. This project is a continuation of Betak's long-standing fascination with the region's rural architecture, its honest use of materials, and how these structures harmonize with the surrounding landscape, translating this vernacular heritage into a compelling contemporary artistic narrative.
Betak's "Chashitsu Hikari Schürli" offers a poignant reminder of the universal narratives embedded within architecture and nature. It encourages us to look beyond the obvious, to find common threads in diverse cultures, and to appreciate how light, a seemingly simple element, can profoundly alter our spatial understanding and evoke a deep sense of introspection. This work inspires a renewed appreciation for art's capacity to transform everyday spaces into profound arenas for contemplation and sensory exploration.