Draiflessen | Michael Pinsky

The topic of sustainability is also taking on an increasingly prominent role in the visual arts. In his installation THE FINAL BID at the Draiflessen Collection in Mettingen, British artist Michael Pinsky explored the idea of reusing objects rather than purchasing new ones. 144 used chairs were auctioned off in an elaborate auction installation. The auction status of each chair was indicated by how high it was suspended in the air. The bids created a kinetic ensemble of objects that was constantly changing.

To bring the installation to life, we modified each of the 144 electric motor winches and made them network-compatible. We also developed the control software that allowed each winch to be controlled individually. On an online auction platform, interested parties placed bids on the individual chairs, which were converted via our network into control commands for the motor winches.

Our technical team ultimately carried out the complex installation and setup of the 144 winches in the MAIN SPACE of the Draiflessen Collection.

Images: Michael Pinsky, THE FINAL BID, © Draiflessen Collection, Mettingen/Michael Pinsky, Photos: Henning Rogge