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Solar series of electric shocks

Solar series of electric shocks ©EP2024

Austria, 2021

Vintage solar panels (1970s), stainless steel panel, 100 × 100 cm

Purchased from the artist in 2024


Fegerl’s artwork solar series of electric shocks reflects on ecological, cultural, aesthetic, and systemic questions raised by the use of photovoltaics. She takes energy as a subject and medium by repurposing old, degraded solar panels to give new life to discarded materials and structures. The plastic composite which houses the active solar cells yellows and disintegrates in time; contacts corroded by moisture lead to short circuits and the appearance of strange shapes, patterns and textures. These panels tell their story, showing the effects of sunlight, temperature and seasonal weather conditions.
Moreover, Fegerl’s art is at the intersection between autonomy and context. The artist allows sunlight to power an electroplating process: copper ions attach themselves to the steel surface of the panel and generate an amorphous (solar) painting. With Fegerl’s help, solar electricity paints itself on this surface. This object’s highly reflective, polished steel surface holds up a mirror: to the environment (through its interaction with the elements) and to us (through our relationship with it).

TIMELINE
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Solar series of electric shocks

Judith FEGERL

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    (…) the intrinsic value of culture and of artistic expression should always be preserved and promoted and that artistic creation is at the heart of cooperation projects. European Parliament legislative resolution of 28 March 2019 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Creative Europe programme (2021 to 2027) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 (COM(2018)0366 – C8 0237/2018 – 2018/0190(COD))


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    Acquisition programme of works of art from Germany, Poland, Spain and Sweden following the Bureau decision from 25 November 2019

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    Acquisition programme of works of art from Czechia, Italy, Malta and Slovakia following the Bureau decision from 25 November 2019


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