Images(76)

Virtue of Blue

Object NameChandelier

Edition

3 of 20

Artist Jeroen Verhoeven (Dutch, b. 1976)

Made FromGlass, Polycrystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cell Panels, LED Bulb, Steel, Aluminum, Electrical Fittings

Datedesigned in 2010; made in 2016

TechniqueBlown, assembled, cut

SizeOverall H: about 150 cm, Diam (max): about 110 cm

Accession Number2016.3.8

Curatorial Area(s)

Postwar and Contemporary

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

Virtue of Blue reimagines the chandelier as a self-sustaining lighting device. Inspired by the technology of solar panels and entranced by their inherent sparkle and shine, Jeroen Verhoeven transformed industrial solar panels into delicate, deep blue butterflies that flutter around a central bulb. Just like butterflies in nature need heat from the sun to power their flight, these solar panel butterflies can gather enough energy to power the entire chandelier.

Place Made

Netherlands, Amsterdam

Physical DescriptionChandelier, "Virtue of Blue". Blown glass body; around 500 "butterflies" cut from polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic cell panels, LED bulb, steel, aluminum, electrical fittings. Colorless glass, blown and blue silicon photovoltaic panels, cut. A large teardrop-shaped blown glass bulb is surrounded by around 500 applied polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic cell panels cut in the shape of four different varieties of butterflies. Because the polycrystalline silicon is so fragile, each butterfly is made up of an aluminum base onto which the solar panel material is attached. The butterflies are placed onto aluminum and stainless steel wire arms, which carry the current to the large hand-blown glass bulb shaped like a drop of sweet nectar. Clustered around the bulb, the butterflies are static, though they appear to be in flight. The chandelier is self-sustaining: the panels collect electricity during daylight hours, and the chandelier has the capacity to store several hours of this gathered power before it can be switched to a normal electrical supply if required. Edition 3 of 20.
Provenance

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