The 1000 Hands Project – Kinetic Wall

The aim of the project was to realise an innovative animation of the foyer of the Deutsches Museum Nürnberg (German Museum Nuremberg), resulting in the idea of a kinetic wall in collaboration with SOLIDSENSE. Instead of a conventional monitor installation, it was intended to be a vibrant, kinetic work of art that made it possible to experience the combination of the physical and digital world. The digital screen was also designed to enable alternating artistic animations.

The kinetic wall was conceived as a constantly changing work of art, continuously providing new visual experiences through a variety of scenarios. The first animation by the art collective PlanValley incorporated the principle of the simulation game “Game of Life” and presented a continuous, dynamic evolution of light, movement and interaction. During the winter, the wall transformed into the poetic drifting of snow.

The installation consists of 196 individually controllable, rotating hands, each with seven video-compatible LEDs, on a two-by-two-metre black surface. Precise mechanics, sophisticated electronics and customised software enable the smooth alternation of the visual presentations and a unique combination of physical movement and digital control through the ArtNet protocol, so that digital artists worldwide can transmit live content to the wall. A digital twin allows the animation to be previewed and programmed from any location. Due to the modular structure, faulty elements can be replaced almost without any tools, ensuring long-term functionality.

The hybrid use of the kinetic wall enables a global art network and fosters new forms of collaboration. It is also possible to integrate AI-generated content and sensors. It therefore represents a new dimension of digital-kinetic art and brings together technological innovation and artistic freedom.