The vibrant Alpine village of Ardez, Switzerland nestled in the heart of the Engadin, becomes the backdrop for an extraordinary exploration of light and art this season. From December 21, 2024, to February 28, 2025, Curuna Ardez presents “Lightness,” a poignant exhibition dedicated to the late Austrian artist Brigitte Kowanz (1957–2022). Curated by Romeo Bucher, in collaboration with Adrian Kowanz, Director of Estate Brigitte Kowanz, this exhibition offers a reflective exploration of the work of Brigitte Kowanz, highlighting her contributions to contemporary art through the medium of light.
Hosted within the historical spaces of the 19th-century former guest house Curuna, the exhibition’s opening date on the Winter Solstice symbolizes Kowanz’s profound connection to the themes of light and time. Her artwork, celebrated globally for melding light, language, and space, pushes audiences to rethink the ways technology and artistic perception evolve together. Through masterful installations that balance intellectual depth and minimalist elegance, “Lightness” offers an intimate look at Kowanz’s enduring legacy.
Brigitte Kowanz’s Conceptual Light Creations
Installation “Lightness“ by Brigitte Kowanz at Curuna Ardez. Photo by Mayk Wendt.
Central to Brigitte Kowanz’s brilliance was her exceptional ability to grapple with how developments in technology challenged traditional art mediums. Few artists could fully discern and interpret the transformation brought by technical media. Kowanz not only understood this complex relationship but also redefined it, using artificial light and fluorescent tubes as her tools of creation. She quite literally “wrote” with light. But make no mistake—this wasn’t a photorealistic representation of the visible world. Her light creations stepped beyond visual reproduction. Instead, they functioned as conceptual writings, or ideographic codes.
A striking example of her conceptual work was her use of Morse code, a communication system of dots and dashes operating through sequences of short and long signals. This early form of virtual communication wasn’t just a method of transmitting information for her. It became her medium—a foundational metaphor for the disembodied, electromagnetic space we inhabit today. Kowanz embraced the immateriality of light, using it as both subject and language, casting Morse code sequences into luminous forms that transcended traditional visual aesthetics. Through this interplay, her artworks bridged a profound break from pictorial norms, inviting viewers into conversations about meaning, limitation, and boundless connectivity. A compelling example of Brigitte Kowanz’s exploration of codes and digital communication is her work Youtube 14.02.2005 (2020). This piece marks the milestone of Youtube going live, an event that forever altered the way we share and receive information.
Dynamic Artworks in Conversation at Curuna Ardez
Installation “Lightness“ by Brigitte Kowanz at Curuna Ardez. Photo by Mayk Wendt.
The body of work takes on new interpretations in the exhibition space. For example, idc (2020) is shown in juxtaposition with a historical black-and-white photograph of the curator’s third-great-grandfather standing next to the carcasses of his chamois hunt, sparking a dialogue between past and present. The light of Luz eslo que se ve (1994/2019) casts a red glow on the wood paneling of the family den as well as the mounted skull of a chamois on display. Radiation (2015) is tucked away in a nook with walls washed in its pink incandescent light, and as visitors enter the space, they too become part of the light.
The exhibition features other dynamic pieces, such as fyi (2020), crafted from neon, aluminum, and lacquer. This work transforms complex ideas about human communication into simplified, elegant structures. Another standout piece, A Sight to Behold (2017), combines neon and mirrors to create an immersive space where viewers find their reflections merging with glowing lines—a thoughtful inquiry into presence and identity. Additionally, Connectivity (2018) highlights the intricate networks that bind our physical and digital worlds through neon compositions. Meanwhile, Lightness (2017), the titular work of the exhibition, anchors the show with delicate curves of neon and stainless steel, radiating a serene interplay between weightlessness and depth.
Brigitte Kowanz’s Continued Impact on the International Art Stage
Installation “Lightness“ by Brigitte Kowanz at Curuna Ardez. Photo by Mayk Wendt.
Brigitte Kowanz was no stranger to broad recognition on the international art stage. Representing Austria at the 2017 Venice Biennale, she captivated global audiences with her profound interplay of light and meaning. Her earlier distinctions include exhibitions across the São Paulo Biennial, Sydney Biennale, Cairo Biennale, and prestigious venues like the Fondation Beyeler and Hayward Gallery in London. The “Lightness” exhibition situates Kowanz’s body of work within a broader cultural and historical discourse, cementing her role in transforming the very possibilities of 21st-century artistic expression. It invites visitors to not only admire her craft but also ponder the significance of light as a metaphor, medium, and message. Curuna Ardez proves to be the perfect setting for such introspections, intertwining its storied past with Kowanz’s luminous visions.
