MONAD

In MONAD (2026), Owen McAteer explores how light can become a three-dimensional sculptural medium, creating forms that exist through optics, atmosphere and spatial perception.

Presented at Volumens Festival at Bombas Gens in Valencia, Spain, the eleven-minute installation begins with a central column of laser light. Passing through two Fresnel lenses, the beams produce geometric patterns that extend into the surrounding architecture.

As the sequence progresses, lines intersect, forms multiply and increasingly complex structures appear suspended within the space. Atmospheric haze makes the beams visible, while their movement and changing geometry continually alter the sculpture's perceived dimensions.

The installation draws on sacred geometry and Pythagorean philosophy. Its title references the monad, understood by the Pythagoreans as a principle of unity and origin. McAteer develops this concept through a visual progression of birth, discovery and collapse.

An accompanying soundscape by Chris McAteer is derived from the natural harmonic series, connecting the visual composition to mathematical relationships in sound.

Rather than presenting a fixed sculptural object, MONAD uses light to establish temporary structures within architecture. The work demonstrates how optical principles can transform an enclosed space into an evolving sculptural experience.