.ART

Above: Jonas Denzel with his beambike. Foto by Tim Kaun.

Public art plays a crucial role in enriching environments, offering unexpected encounters with artistic expression. It serves as a catalyst for community engagement, sparking conversations and forging connections among wide audiences. In this context, Jonas Denzel, a filmmaker and visual artist based in Karlsruhe, Germany, embodies this ethos through his project, beambike (beambike.art). He says: “Karlsruhe, where I’m based, is very much a bike city. For me, it actually doesn’t matter if it’s urban or if it’s in nature. Once I can go with the beambike, I just go, set everything up, and start projecting.”

Denzel’s work extends beyond conventional gallery or museum spaces, bringing art directly to the streets and public places, transforming mundane locations into dynamic artistic experiences.

The artist comments: “beambike is a project which gives me enormous flexibility in my art – working in projection mapping. I’m often riding the bicycle through the city, looking for spots for projections: facades, trees, etc. When doing projection mapping, you need some technical equipment and a power supply. So I got the idea to put everything on a bike – the beambike! And now it’s possible for me to screen everywhere, anytime. I’m super spontaneous. It’s a great way to make projections and also to experiment.”

Denzel’s background in projection mapping, video installation, and documentary film informs his approach to beambike. Using a customized cargo bike equipped with mobile projection technology, Denzel reimagines urban landscapes, from bridges and statues to underpasses, with mesmerizing projection mappings. These projections, carefully integrated into the surroundings, breathe new life into seemingly ordinary or long-forgotten spaces, engaging passersby with unexpected works of art.

“In 2018, I built the first prototype of the beambike. Sometimes I publish my projection locations via social media. I also like to go somewhere unexpectedly and surprise people. It’s a great way to start a dialogue. It’s art, it connects, and it helps to connect with people,” comments Denzel.

The flexibility provided by beambike empowers Denzel to explore diverse environments, whether urban or natural, within his home city and beyond.

Denzel’s beambike is more than just a vehicle for projection mapping; it embodies a philosophy of accessibility and engagement with art. By bringing his artwork directly to people, Denzel breaks down barriers to traditional art consumption, fostering connections and dialogue within communities.

From historical landmarks to hidden places within cityscapes, Denzel’s choice of locations tells a narrative, drawing viewers into a deeper exploration of their surroundings. Through beambike, he illuminates overlooked spaces, sparking curiosity and rekindling interest in the urban environment.

In Denzel’s vision, art is not confined to static spaces or predetermined schedules; it is dynamic, nomadic, and ever-evolving. beambike serves as a conduit for this narrative, delivering art to people where they live, work, and play.

In response to inquiries regarding his choice of the .ART domain for his project, Jonas Denzel says: “beambike.art says everything: it’s beambike – it’s art.”

Here are some examples of available domains inspired by this article: bike.art / locations.art / landscape.art / now.art / mobile.art / surrounding.art  > Purchase yours now at our flagship store get.art or through your preferred registrar.