Look Up: New art installation transforms Atomium lift into light and sound show

The monumental lift shaft of the Atomium now provides visitors with a unique sound and light experience.

Look Up by French artist collective Visual System showcases the unique structure of the 100m-high elevator, the tourist attraction announced in a press statement.

When it was built in 1958 for the World Expo, it was the fastest lift in Europe, capable of transporting 500 people per hour at a speed of 5 metres per second.

The Atomium in Heysel remains an iconic symbol for Brussels, and regularly houses permanent and temporary exhibitions.

This latest installation is part of a new mission to add digital art to its programme, giving artists carte blanche to create immersive installations that exploit the singular design of the site.

Among its permanent exhibits is another light and sound sculpture by Visual System, called Centrale, which enhances the central sphere of the Atomium all year round.

The latest installation, Look Up, explores the boundaries between reality and imagination by sublimating each section with light. It is accompanied by an original piece of music by Thomas Vaquié, who regularly composes for Visual System.

His new album Slight Echo, compiles the soundtracks of various creations presented at the Atomium over the last decade. Enriched by the texts of Stéphane Beauverger, it explores the complex relationship between humanity and its inventions.

Photos: Look Up at the Atomium ©Visual System