Eternal winter magic in the chamber of wonder
More than 15 years ago in an extraordinary artistic collaboration, Tord Boontje and Alexander McQueen created the Silent Light crystal tree. In 2020, this sparkling artwork is getting a new home at Swarovski Kristallwelten (Swarovski Crystal Worlds) in a new poetic snow installation, raising questions about the transience and fragility of nature in the world around us. The new Chamber of Wonder can be admired in Wattens,
The moment can be romantic or apocalyptic – as always, it is in the eye of the beholder: At the center of a glittering cold winter landscape, a tree stands proud and magnificent, completely covered in ice. This was the image Tord Boontje and Alexander McQueen had in mind when they designed the Silent Light crystal tree: “This natural phenomenon is something special that we wanted to capture with this tree. A balance of beauty that is actually a little uncanny as well. Around the obvious sparkles, we also wanted to show the darker side of emotions.”
The Silent Light Chamber of Wonder at Swarovski Crystal Worlds has fascinated visitors since 2015. In 2020, the tree is moving into a new room – because the technology to fully implement the artistic vision has finally arrived. Starting from July 1, visitors will be able to enter a poetic Winter Wonderland not only in an emotional sense but in reality too: Snow will fall from the “sky” in sub-zero temperatures – no matter what the season might be outside. Artist Tord Boontje explains: “The snow represents another element of nature in this room. What makes it exciting is the duality: What is real and what is an illusion, an intimation of nature? The ephemerality of the snow crystals contrasts with the Swarovski crystals, whose splendor is preserved for us forever.”
Cautious visitors can stay in the warmth behind a window. Those who dare venture inside the Chamber of Wonder will trudge through the snow and discover fabulous animals on icy branches around the crystal tree, along with an ice grotto dedicated to Alexander McQueen. For Carla Rumler, Cultural Director Swarovski and Curator of Swarovski Crystal Worlds, the Silent Light tree in Wattens has found its perfect home: “Silent Light is an artisanal masterpiece of crystal art with plenty of history. We have appreciated Tord Boontje as a creative companion for many years, and it is of great importance to us that we may now also uphold part of Alexander McQueen’s legacy with this work of art.”
Snow as a museum relic
Stefan Isser, Managing Director of D. Swarovski Tourism Services GmbH, emphasizes not only the further aesthetic development of Silent Light but also its expressiveness in the current context: “Chambers of wonder historically collect treasures from all over the world that were unknown in one’s own country and often considered to be curiosities. Bringing snow to Swarovski Crystal Worlds as an exhibition element is a unique experience for our guests. At the same time, however, this installation quietly raises questions: Has snow become so rare that it has turned into a precious museum relic? How does our childlike longing relate to our approach to nature? Making it possible to experience the transience of ice and snow also means increasing awareness of its significance in the Alpine region. We are one of the few destinations in Tyrol whose success does not mainly depend on winter sports or on the snow conditions. Nonetheless, of course, Swarovski Crystal Worlds does not operate in an artistic vacuum. In addition to all the experiences it provides, Silent Light will also always remind us that we should not treat our world and our most valuable resources recklessly,” Isser concludes.
Interplay of artificial and natural worlds
For some time now, visitors have been coming to Swarovski Crystal Worlds to admire the regional flora and fauna in the Alpine garden of the Giant. Starting from July 2020, this experience of nature inside an artificially created world will be enhanced by genuine snow. “A fresh layer of snow will fall every day so visitors can enjoy a flawless winter landscape and feel genuine snow,” explains Erich Gummerer, Managing Director of TechnoAlpin, whose innovative indoor snow system is providing the near-natural snowfall – a novelty to be presented at Swarovski Crystal Worlds for the first time anywhere in the world.
The focus with every new installation at Swarovski Crystal Worlds is on implementing the designers’ artistic vision in an eco-friendly manner. The triple glazing and high-quality insulation panels used for the Silent Light Chamber of Wonder ensure that the low temperature will be optimally maintained after the initial cooling. The dense snow cover also functions as a cold reservoir. TechnoAlpin’s efficient technology also guarantees minimal electricity and water consumption: one liter water is transformed into five liters snow. The power consumption of the new Chamber of Wonder constitutes only a share of 5.5 percent of Swarovski Crystal Worlds’ total consumption, keeping in mind that the electricity at Swarovski Crystal Worlds comes entirely from renewable resources, specifically Swarovski’s own Wattenbach hydropower plant and from the local electricity provider. The Chamber of Wonder consumes around 167 m³ water per year – that is roughly one glass of water per visitor.
More information: kristallwelten.swarovski.com