Global Rainbow in Nantes, France

When artist Yvette Mattern wanted to display her “Global Rainbow” art project in Nantes, France, she turned to Lightwave International to provide the laser skills necessary to bring her vision to life. Utilizing custom-made optics, Lightwave’s skilled technicians created a laser rainbow visible from over 60 kilometers away from the city!

Designed in-residence at the Center for Contemporary Art in Warsaw in 2007, the Global Rainbow Project is composed of horizontal beams of light representing the seven colors of the rainbow. For the artist, is an evocation of the power of natural phenomenon and her trust in humans, encompassing geographical and social diversity in its reach. A symbol of hope and tolerance, the Global Rainbow radiates through environments, highlighting the places it touches and re-enchanting everyday life.

The Global Rainbow was presented in Nantes between September 9 and 16, 2011, to mark the beginning of the season under a sign of innovation, excitement and sharing.

Yvette Mattern was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and now lives between New York and Berlin. She works mainly in temporal media such as video and film, which she fuses with elements of performance, public art and sculpture. A graduate of the School of Fine Arts from Columbia University, she taught at the University of Albany (New York). She has received numerous awards and has exhibited in Venice, Rome, Riga, Berlin and New York amongst others.