switch/grass variations (no.1-3) (2025)
Images 1–3: Dudek Photography · Image 4: Marc Sison
Our most ambitious project to date, we were selected as 1 of 3 projects that were featured at a light show called “Winter Wonders” at Canada’s largest botanical garden-The Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington/Hamilton.
Inspired by the lush collection of plants that surround the RBG, we created an installation based on “switchgrass”, a native plant species found in Ontario. Switchgrass is an Ontario native plant that plays a huge role in winter ecosystems, offering food and shelter for small animals when they need it the most.
We installed 5000 custom-designed reeds of light comprising of a total of 45,000 LEDs in three zones on the Kippax Trail. Each zone illuminates with a unique pattern when visitors touch a central controller shaped as a cattail plant.
Just like this installation needs touch to come alive, real ecosystems supported by plants-like switchgrass, rely on human action and care to keep thriving.
Contributors
Production, soldering and electricals: Shelley T, Shan Chhibber, Jay Bauer, Jared Savage, Daria Anikanova, Joeri Geentjens, Lavinia Trifoi, Sid Patel.
Set up: Jeremy Freiburger.