Video by
Cathedral of Ego: Light, Technology, and Contemporary Belief
Exploring the Shift from Spiritual to Technological Transcendence
Cathedral of Ego was a site-specific light installation initiated and produced by Collective Oslo in collaboration with renowned tattoo artist and Sang Bleu founder Maxime Plescia-Büchi and Bjørn Gunnar Staal, co-founder of the experiential art and design studio VOID.
Presented in the winter landscape of Ekebergskogen in Oslo, the installation transformed the forest into an immersive environment of light, geometry, and reflection, inviting audiences to contemplate the relationship between technology, identity, and contemporary systems of belief.
From Conversation to Experience
The work originated from an ongoing dialogue between Maxime Plescia-Büchi and Bjørn Gunnar Staal, exploring philosophical questions surrounding the evolution of human consciousness and the role of technology in modern society.
These conversations became the foundation for a custom-built visual system that translated ideas into evolving geometric forms. Through light, movement, and spatial intervention, abstract concepts were transformed into a shared physical experience.
An Intangible Cathedral
Projected onto the forest floor and surrounding landscape, geometric structures emerged through an array of lasers suspended within atmospheric smoke. The resulting architecture of light formed an ephemeral cathedral—visible yet untouchable, monumental yet temporary.
The installation referenced traditional sacred spaces while questioning what has replaced them in contemporary culture. As religious narratives increasingly coexist with technological promises, Cathedral of Ego examined how new forms of faith, aspiration, and transcendence are being shaped by innovation and digital systems.
Our Approach
Collective Oslo facilitated the collaboration between artists, technologists, and designers, creating a platform where philosophy, technology, and artistic expression could intersect. By combining spatial storytelling with advanced visual technology, the project explored how public art can provoke reflection while creating powerful shared experiences.
The result was an immersive installation that transformed a natural environment into a temporary space for contemplation, dialogue, and wonder.
CLIENT
Collective Oslo
LOCATION
Ekebergskogen, Oslo, Norway
CATEGORY
Public Art Installation
Light Art
Experiential Design
DELIVERABLES
Creative Concept Development
Artistic Collaboration
Spatial Experience Design
Light Installation
Experiential Production
Site-Specific Activation
COLLABORATORS
Maxime Plescia-Büchi
Founder, Sang Bleu
Bjørn Gunnar Staal
Co-Founder, VOID
Collective Oslo
THEMES
Technology & Humanity
Contemporary Belief Systems
Identity
Light & Space
Public Art
Immersive Experiences
