Ancient cultures looked to the stars in the night sky to understand the weather, predict the seasons, and measure the passing of the days. For them, the sky represented the divine realm of the gods; science later transformed it into the basis for global navigation, telecommunications and the conquest of space. But today, humanity has lost its connection with the firmament; light pollution generated by cities has blotted out the stars and the age-old stories of the constellations.

Astres is an immersive experience that seeks to recover this universal heritage, and to raise awareness of the gradual loss of the night sky in contemporary cities. Through the innovative use of laser and audio projection, the project not only celebrates the beauty of the cosmos, but also invites us to rediscover an ancient way of looking at the stars. The work therefore becomes a reflection on our relationship with the universe, and expresses a deep respect for natural darkness.

Playmodes is an audiovisual craft workshop founded in 2006 by Eloi Maduell and Santi Vilanova. Their work explores the crossroads between art, science, philosophy and technology, creating a distinctive language of visual music using tools they have developed themselves. Their works, which range from light sculptures to kinetic instruments and celestial projections, draw the viewer into an abstract universe where code is transmuted into immersive experiences. With an approach that merges space, sound, image and movement, each project suggests new ways of interacting with the viewer.

With roots in creative open-source programming, their work has been recognised internationally. Their installations have been exhibited all over the world from Shanghai to New York, and have won acclaim in both the art and the design fields. Part of the collections of institutions and private collectors all over the world, their work has cemented their place as leaders at the intersection between art and technology.

Laser-star calibration:

Francesc Rey, Higher Technical School of Telecommunication Engineering of Barcelona (ETSETB) of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.

Speech Synthesis: 

"Catotron", CollectivaT. 

"Aina", Generalitat de Catalunya and Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS).