Although most of us think of math and geometry as something confusing and frustrating, the Paine Art Center and Gardens is putting on an exhibit right now that makes math and geometry seem beautiful and soothing instead.
After over 50,000 participants in 2022 the first time, The Paine has brought back The Nature of Light exhibit for the first time in three years with twice the lights and many other new additions, what marketing manager Noell Dickmann calls “next-level visual magic.”
“Everything has just been taken up to a new level,” Dickman said. “There really is so much magic going on within the grounds, and people are having magical moments.”
The exhibit is an opportunity to explore the intricate — and even artistic — nature of light through immersive landscapes by Light Switch and various hand-crafted light fixtures sculpted by HYBYCOZO placed throughout The Paine estate.
HYBYCOZO (pronounced hi-bye-co-zo), is the collaborative studio of Serge Beaulieu and Yelena Filipchuk, Los Angeles-based artists whose work “draw(s) on inspirations from mathematics, science and natural phenomena,” according to their website.
The duo plays with light, shadow and sculpture to create patterns and a unique form of art, with Nature of Light featuring 26 of these “moments” with the sculptures. There are 11 of these that are new designs since the last exhibit, with many making their debut in the Midwest and one sculpture even being created specifically for the mansion’s Main Gallery.
Titled “Poetry in Motion,” this 12-foot spinning sculpture is HYBYCOZO’s first work that projects color through colored, transparent material.
“(Poetry in Motion) was by far my favorite piece,” exhibit visitor and UW-Oshkosh student McKenzie Moore said. “I loved watching how the shapes and colors danced around and changed my surroundings as it spun around.”
Music is another new addition, tailored to each section of the exhibit. Original music by Johannes Winkler and Rusanda Panfili, an acclaimed violinist known for her solo work and collaborations with Hans Zimmer and Andrea Bocelli, now accompanies the exhibit as visitors journey through.
“The atmosphere (The Paine has) crafted here is really special,” Moore said. “It made me feel like I was a kid again. Everyone seems really happy to be here.”
Besides being a cool experience, the exhibit has also had a positive economic impact on the city of Oshkosh, with a three-million-dollar impact from the exhibit’s first installment in 2022.
They’re also adding some discounts this year to encourage attendance, including lower admission rates during the weekdays and 25% off admission for reservations after 9 p.m.
The exhibit goes until Oct. 26, and tickets can be purchased online at thepaine.org/make-a-reservation.
Whether you’d like to experience a magical night with friends, family or someone special (or you’d prefer to fly solo and live your forest fairy dreams), this whimsical experience is sure to transport you to a whole new world.
