Lights flicker… sounds linger… the most impressive portion of the Ecstasy exhibit at MOCA in 2005 was Erwin Redl. I walked into the dark room, expecting some random invention of sorts by an artist on LSD only to find the most intoxicating space lit up with tiny green lights all perfectly aligned and mapped out as a grid; instantly making me feel like a vital portion of the project.

Since that first encounter, I have been aching for more of Redl’s work, but let me tell you, it’s not easy to find. I was absolutely elated when I found out about his show in Los Angeles. This is an opportunity to see an assortment of his work without being limited to just a single room. Surprisingly, this is his first solo show here and it will only be running through the end of July at the ACE Gallery in Beverly Hills, which has devoted its entire space to Erwin Redl. You have to be impressed by the usage of space at this exhibit because most of Redl’s work takes up a substantial amount of room. Some of his installations are in intimate spaces such as the green tunnel shaped 'Morph,' while others like massive cylinder called 'Fade' in the color red, is nestled in a place with high ceilings in order to unite both the artists vision and the space itself.

Redl often spends a good amount of time in the environment that his work will be housed in and then creates from what is available. Redl’s installations come in a few different concepts. One is the seen as more of a painting like form because its wall based, while another consists of a room filling piece with blue fiber optic rods from floor to ceiling, inviting its viewers to become participants. His installations are visual, auditory, and mental experiences.

He was born in Austria in 1963 and has devoted his education to studying electronic music and computer installations. I’d say a man both philosophical and scientific in his vision and theories. Erwin Redl has lived and worked in New York and as a result, in 1997 upon seeing Fred Sandback’s exhibition at the Dia, Redl’s work changed dramatically. He called this his profound experience because Sandback was able to achieve everything that Redl had hoped for. Redl was in an artistic crisis, not knowing how to translate the structured language of computer programming into a physical setting, but Fred Sandback’s work showed him the way to achieve this. Ever since, Redl’s work has mainly consisted of stringing thin copper wires with LED lights from floor to ceiling in order to bring to life the computer programming language.

My initial impression as I walk through his first installation, 'Fade,' at ACE is a subtle shock. I’m surrounded by red lights that move in a clockwise rotation with a sound that seems to follow. Somehow, Erwin Redl creates a surreal environment for his audience, where boundaries overlap and our minds start questioning this experience. The movement of the lights around me is something that doesn’t quite make sense at first, but it slowly starts to sink in and I begin to feel like a part of the installation. I’m really lucky to be here while the gallery is empty and as I explore each room, a quiet and humble sense of understanding and appreciation sets in. 'MATRIX XV' is nestled in a corner spot upstairs and while I look around, I feel more and more like an intruder in a bizarre computer structure. As viewers start to slowly fill up the room, the feeling completely changes. It's quite clever for an artist to create something that can shift so quickly and provide two very different experiences in one visit. It’s simply fascinating to watch the initial reactions of the spectators as they step into each room. I lean back against the wall and watch while squinting my eyes as people touch the pieces and run in and out of the wire structures, what at insane trip this is. His work is a whole new media to be appreciated and learned from. We’re no longer just starring at work of art, but standing inside of it and each angle provides a new perception of the overall achievement; a modern masterpiece.

For more information, visit www.Acegallery.net
9430 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
T: 310.858.9090

Photo Credits: Ace Gallery

By: Tenny Hovsepians