Solar Facula

Flares, or flare stacks symbolize the inception of a large-scale oil production campaign in Almetyevsk. They were installed to evolve burning-off gas, as its overwhelming amount could lead to a rapid jump in the pressure on the production site and oil terminal explosion.

In the 1950s flares became an essential visual part of the townscape, as well as a kind of Almetyevsk local culture. Women who worked in the oil fields often remembered the flaming flares, which used to be located not so far from the present-day installation. These flare systems lit up the streets so well that locals were not afraid of going to a local Palace of Culture to dance. People used to dry grains under them, and the light spreaded from these constructions allowed people «to read books at night».

«Solar facula» is an urban media installation created by a Moscow artist Viktor Polyakov. A steel construction is equipped with an integrated computer system, which analyses signals from the space and then reacts by switching the lights on the construction.

Light is the main medium of expression in Viktor Polyakov's works, and that is the reason he chose the image of a gas flare for his project in Almetyevsk. His installation also represents an international symbol of reason, will and commitment to win. The object is also connected with the author's passion for astronomy. Solar faculae are bright regions on the Sun, which surround its spots. «These regions themselves are not that bright, but due to their quantity, they imply the Sun's luminosity», the artist explains. «Faculae are the visible indicators of solar activity».

The work also includes an interactive component: an embedded computer analyses the data from the observation satellite DSCOVR (an abbreviation for Deep Space Climate Observatory), which tracks the space weather: solar wind, the number and size of sunspots and coronal mass ejections. «The petals of the blossom» of the Solar facula change their colour according to the combination of data the computer receives: they twinkle, become bright or faded ones. «When you are going up the spiral stairs, you may find yourself in the light stream, which is mesmerizing», says Viktor Polyakov.

The installation accurately captures the cycles of solar activity. For instance, it signalled two powerful solar flares on May 29, 2020. «It is considered that the Sun state influences many processes happening on our planet», the artist says. «This relates not only to the temperature or thickness of the ozone layer, but also to the tension in military and social conflicts».

The sculpture is made in the Soviet modernism style, which correlates with the artist's interests. «In the absence of universal grand narratives, such as space exploration, the direction turned out to be unclaimed and, in its entirety, ceased to exist by the end of the Soviet Union», Viktor Polyakov points out. «A torch is my reverence towards this architectural style, for which I have the greatest respect».

Viktor Polyakov was born in Moscow. He studied in the Institute of Journalism and Literary Creativity, and after graduation he was engaged in studio and experimental photography. «While working on projects, one way or another, I resorted to the use of non-trivial lighting schemes, working with the audience's perception. Sometimes I even was engaged in set design for object photography», he recalls. Viktor Polyakov has always been interested in contemporary art, with which he got acquainted at various European exhibitions: «I reckon the fact of having an eye on the artworks helped me to assimilate into the contemporary art process.»

In an attempt to forge his own path, Viktor Polyakov took up kinetic and light installations. He began to create large-scale objects from translucent interreflected segments and mirrors. Today the artist collaborates with the Tretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin Museum, Lexus, Swarovski and others. His works can be purchased at the auctions, seen at temporary exhibitions or observed on one of the streets of Almetyevsk.