Under Construction by Melting Pol

“Under Construction” by Paul Schumacher

Paul Schumacher alias Melting Pol at Annexe22

Especially in the current situation, the European Capital of Culture Esch2022 wants to support local artists and provide them with a platform to make their projects happen. From 20 May to 11 July 2020, the Luxembourger Paul Schumacher, alias Melting Pol, will exhibit at our Annexe22 in Esch-sur-Alzette.

“In this very strange situation of quarantine, I was asked if I would like to exhibit in the Annexe22. I wanted to create something that people could look at from the outside and which had a certain presence”, says Paul Schumacher about his work “Under Construction. A light-art installation”. The result is an installation showing two standard industrial scaffolds, typically used on building sites to finish work such as painting walls or paperhanging. However, the scaffolds exhibited have not been constructed from metal rods, as it is usually the case. Instead they are made of white LED tubes. In addition, there are transparent platforms made of Plexiglas.

Since scaffolds generally bear significant weight, the exhibited object appears to the viewer as a paradox - because it sends contradictory messages. Since viewers are bound to see a certain vulnerability, they cannot help but ask questions about this work’s fragility. A fragility representative of any artistic word or project, artistic creation, and its very own existence. By presenting not only this image of fragility, but also by embodying the concept of unfinished work, the installation becomes a highly topical record of our
times.

In an interview with Esch2022, Paul Schumacher talks about the implementation of his idea. The video (https://youtu.be/0LeyqbBPFFc) can also be found on our social media channels such as Facebook and soon on the website of Esch2022. 

From 20 May on, visitors can see the installation "Under Construction" in the heart of Esch-sur- Alzette. In addition, an online link to a virtual tour of the Annexe22 will be published on this day: on Facebook and on the website of Esch2022.

About the artist and his works

Paul Schumacher - also known as Melting Pol – is born 1965 in Luxembourg, where he still lives and works. Since 1991 the Luxembourger is as so-called "visual artist". As a pioneer of the new art form "VeeJaying", his work has been displayed since 1995 on screens at numerous party evenings, concerts, festivals, theatres, and other venues. 

From 1996 onwards, Schumacher started to initiate, design and produce his own audiovisual shows: “Melting Sessions”. These events aim to encourage live interaction between musicians, video artists and performers from other disciplines such as dance.

From 2001 on, he turns to new disciplines - through video installations, artistic lighting projects, photography or sculptures. Since 2002, he sets up, designs, and takes part in several collective exhibitions.

In recent years, Paul Schumacher has developed and mastered all finer points of “video mapping”, a new technique used live in all fields, at concerts or for theatre. Here are two examples: the “Melting Session 7” project, which involved the projection of light effects onto the façade of the Mudam Contemporary Art Museum of Luxembourg to celebrate its 10th anniversary; and a projection on the façade of the National Library as part of Luxembourg's City’s “Light Nights – Festival of Lights”. 

In 2017, the “Crazy Cinématographe Revisited & Relooped” project is set up and Schumacher is also involved with the “Blackout” theatre project. In 2017 and 2018 for the “Magicastle” Nights in Befort, he shows his projections onto the ruins of the medieval fortress in Beaufort. His last major project involved a work created especially for the façade of Echternach Abbey as part of the “Echterlive” festival in 2019.

Informations on the installation

Duration: 20.05 - 11.07.2020
Location: Annexe22, Esch-sur-Alzette, Place de la Résistance (Brillplaz)
Note: Due to the current situation, the access to Annexe22 is unfortunately not possible until further notice. A visit is nevertheless worthwhile, as the luminous work of Paul Schumacher is also visible from outside. Esch2022 will inform you as soon as Annexe22 reopens.

Virtual tour: Link from Wednesday on, the 20.05.2020 on Facebook and at www.esch2022.lu

Next milestones

The next press breakfast will take place on June 25, 2020. Further information on the themes and location will follow.

All the press material including photos and videos can be downloaded from www.esch2022.lu/presse.