OGE Group
Together! Responding to COVID-19
On display November 6–15, 2020
Haifa, Israel
Together! Responding to COVID-19 is a 32-foot-high light sculpture representing an artistic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspired by the hope, determination, sacrifice, and support generated by this crisis, the artists sought to create a symbol that honors those we have lost to the COVID-19 virus and their families and friends, while also applauding the healthcare heroes on the frontlines of the pandemic. This is symbolized in a large-scale sculpture of hands that come together, hold each other, and form the shape of a collective heart. The hands represent all ages and races through multiple hand shapes, sizes, and colors, illuminating the sky each night with a variety of lighting sequences.
Together! Responding to COVID-19 is accompanied by a website, Together-in-Light.com, where people are encouraged to write or record their personal experiences about the COVID-19 pandemic. These statements will be collected prior to and during Canal Convergence and shared as a part of the exhibition.
Location: Together! Responding to COVID-19 will be located between Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center on the southwest corner of 2nd Street and Drinkwater Boulevard.
Artwork rigging and installation provided by Hannon Rigging & Production.
Virtual Viewing
Biography
OGE Group is an interdisciplinary studio specializing in architecture, urban and branding projects, and light art with highly creative, inspiring character. After working at renowned architecture offices around the world, the studio was founded in 2007 by architects Merav (Salush) Eitan and Gaston Zahr. They focus on design, light art, and art direction and work internationally. From 2016, after many exhibitions abroad and being a part of large events in Israel, OGE Group was appointed as the artistic directors of the Jerusalem Festival of Lights, which draws close to 1 million visitors.
OGE Group puts emotions at the center of their work. They believe that a design or a project that doesn’t trigger emotions or challenges perception is hardly noteworthy nor successful. The relation of the audience to their projects is essential for success; they should be lovable, surprising, challenging, intriguing, social, inspiring, amazing, colorful, remarkable, distinguishable, and so on. A constant theme for their work is playfulness, joyfulness, and reverberating childhood memories, all mixed with a bit of nostalgia. Their most successful installations include Light a wish, House of Cards, Light Swings, Angels of Freedom, Message in a bottle, Fly your light, Spring of Hope, Prima Ballerina, and more—each a different gem in their story box.