Astrum, 2025

Powerful beams of light atop the Al Faisaliah Tower point toward major celestial bodies, such as the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and Uranus. Each beam is precisely aligned with a specific star or planet, giving the work its title: Astrum (2025). The artist invites the public to look up and reconnect with the cosmic dance. Programmed to follow their celestial targets in real time, the beams function as a planetary light compass, turning the city into a stage for a cosmic ballet. A brief choreographed realignment happens every fifteen minutes.

At the heart of Astrum is a real-time tracking system developed by programmer András László Nagy, computing the positions of 757 celestial bodies. This data continuously determines the orientation of each beam. Lighting programmer Balázs Varga then translates this stream into fluid, coordinated movement across all 64 fixtures. Astrum brings cosmic awareness into everyday life, inviting viewers to contemplate their connection to the Universe.