Aleph

Imagine discovering a point in space that contains all other points of view, where anyone who looks at it can see everything in the universe from all angles simultaneously. How would we feel contemplating this reality, where everything converges and reflects, at once and without overlapping? Das Aleph is an inflatable structure designed by artist Paula Vidal and sound artist Ján Solčáni that offers an experience in which multiple perspectives and fragments of reality can be perceived simultaneously. Utilizing the analogue technique of Camera Obscura, Das Aleph becomes an intimate, fragmented journey through reality. Situated along the canals of Neukölln, the structure continuously alters the viewer's experience of perceived reality.

In a post-Covid era, where digital media is heavily shaped by post-truths and conspiracy theories, Das Aleph creates an abstract, multisensory experience that lets visitors contemplate different perspectives of a place at once. Inspired by Argentinean writer J.L. Borges’ story, it references a tiny sphere in an old Buenos Aires house that reveals the true cosmic dimensions of space. The core idea is creating windows that bring the exterior world inside, offering perspectives that might otherwise go unnoticed.

The structure consists of 11 pentagons, acting as a sealed pinhole, creating a Camera Obscura experience inside. From the outside, it’s a simple dome, but inside, the structure presents a fragmented, 360-degree view of the outside world. What appears on the lower plane, such as water, is inverted on the upper plane, creating a complex, shifting visual field.

The pentagons contain RGB sensors that convert colors into combination tones, producing a psychoacoustic effect. The sound within Das Aleph is dynamic and changes based on movement inside the structure and its own movement. The auditory experience will differ depending on the surroundings, from water to vegetation or buildings, making each visit unique.