Bjørn Staal

Bjørn Staal is an artist and software developer based in Oslo, Norway.

His work explores the dynamic interactions between computational systems, human perception & behavior. With more than a decade of experience in multidisciplinary design and software development, Staal co-founded the experimental art and design studio Void in 2015. Focused mainly on the development of large-scale interactive installations, Void has gained international recognition for its work at the intersection of design, architecture, technology, and art.

Since leaving the studio in 2023, Bjørn has focused on his own artistic practice, exploring how algorithms can enrich our understanding of what it means to be human in an age where more and more of our agency is being outsourced. Staal’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, as part of online and physical exhibitions as well as installations in public spaces. In September 2024, Staal had his first solo exhibition at Wintercircus in Ghent, Belgium.

Tre

2021

installation

40w laser, Mirrors, Steel, C++ code

Fjord, Oslo

Void

Tre/Fjord

Tre (meaning both "Tree" and "Three" in Norwegian) is a minimalist light and sound installation that explores the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. It was developed by Void as a site specific light sculpture at the light festival Fjord Oslo in 2021.

When we think of a tree as a single, independent object, we easily miss the truth of how trees live together and support each other through complex, interconnected root and fungal systems that exchange nutrients and information about their environment. Trees, like humans, thrive when they are together.

Tre invites its audience to become part of a collective experience that celebrates our mutually dependent relationship with each other and our natural environment. The installation creates an immersive space where visitors can experience the invisible networks that connect living systems, translating the underground communication of forest ecosystems into perceptible light and sound interactions that reveal the collaborative nature of both natural and human communities.

Tre at Fjord Oslo

© Fjord Oslo