To mark the 20th anniversary of the LUMA foundation’s groundbreaking, the 10th anniversary of the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh and the 150th anniversary of Impressionism in France, LUMA commissioned a 600 drone aerial performance above the iconic Frank Gehry tower.

We traced the movement in Van Goghs paintings using our new swarming algorithm against the night sky in order to reveal the structures and patterns in nature. Creating an elegant relationship between our historical Franchise Freedom drone performance. We combined this genesis artwork of the drone light industry with the extraordinary lines of Van Gogh. Together, our work and his impressionistic counter-reaction to photography are both reacting to emerging, world-altering technology.

Read More
The Guardian – Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night Over the Rhône returns to Arles for the first time in 136 years
Designboom – Vincent van Gogh’s ‘starry night’ artwork heads home to arles for the first time in 136 years

In collaboration with LUMA Arles, we are presenting of immersive and interactive artworks surrounding Vincent Van Gogh’s practices and artistic connection to nature under the title Living Landscape. The pieces are part of an ambitious group show in partnership with the Foundation Vincent van Gogh Arles, called ‘Van Gogh and the Stars’

Coded Nature, as well as a new commissioned artwork called Murmuring Minds, is centred around the concept of making the invisible force of nature come to the surface, illuminating the role of the elements in the movement of the natural world. This parallel between Van Gogh’s inspirational work and how it highlights the connection we have to nature, is translated in a DIRFT way. Van Gogh’s body of work, his imagination and his artistry, lay at the heart of inventiveness for many, including us, and it can be seen in various formats and ways, staying relevant despite those differences.

For the opening of Living Landscape, DRIFT flew a commissioned drone performance called Electric Sky, which saw an interpretation of Van Gogh’s artworks above to iconic LUMA tower illuminating the night sky.

The exhibition is on view from June 1st to September 1st

Read More:
The Guardian – Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night Over the Rhône returns to Arles for the first time in 136 years
Designboom – DRIFT brings immersive, interactive artworks and a drone performance to LUMA arles

Photo by Finn Bech

Shylight was on view at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich as part of an ongoing collaboration with American Express.

Set in the beautiful Rotunda of the Pinakothek Der Moderne, the opening integrated art, design, and music, as our Shylights gracefully danced to the piano compositions of Joep Beving.

The exhibition was on view form April 11th to May 11th

Read more:
Sleek Magazine – In Celebration of AMEX Art On – DRIFT at Pinakothek der Moderne
GQ – New in the Pinakothek der Moderne: Shylight – A blossoming synthesis of art, nature and technology

We took part of a group exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in London called “When Forms Come Alive”, which centres around ‘restless’ sculpture and transformative installations.

Our beloved Shylights were part of this dynamic presentation, sitting among many other brilliant artist, highlighting the ever-changing world we live in and inspiring physical responses to art and sculpture alike.

The exhibition was on view form February 6th until May 6th

Read more:
The Guardian – When Forms Come Alive; Beyond Form: Lines of Abstraction 1950-70 review – a restless triumph and a badly lit jumble sale
Wallpaper – Oozing, squidgy, erupting forms come alive at Hayward Gallery
Stirworld – Hayward Gallery stages animated sculptures in ‘When Forms Come Alive’

We are taking part in the group exhibition ‘Biophilia: Nature Reimagined’ which highlights the transformative power of nature. ‘Biophilia’ refers to a theory describing the intricately linked nature between human evolution and the natural world. It invites us to reflect on life itself, in a hyper-digital, urban-centric world.

The exhibition will be on view form May 5th to August 11th

Read more:
Surface Mag – Hate Touching Grass? Try These Artworks Instead
CBS News – Newest exhibit at the Denver Art Museum is Biophilia
Westword – The DAM’s Stunning New Show Will Make You Want to Hug the Nearest Tree

DRIFT’s Lonneke Gordijn participated in a workshop that brought together prominent scientists and artists to discuss where they stand on the integration of empathy and intuition in science and art. An intriguing conversation close to our hearts. Together they created new work for Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden which will be on view from 14 October 2022 until 15 January 2023. 

Read more here.

Our aerial performance Desert Swarm at Noor Riyadh Festival, one of the largest global public art initiatives, was DRIFT’s biggest drone art installation to date: with 3,000 drones performing a nightly choreography mimicking a bird swarm!

Excitingly, this public art performance broke 2 Guinness World Records! With Desert Swarm being the largest drone bird swarm ever flown and the festival also launched the most drones in a week. 

Desert Swarm is a poetic blend of art and technology. Based on complex algorithmic patterns developed from more than ten years of research into starlings’ flight behavior, the site-specific artwork mimics the birds’ murmurations, creating the illusion of a flock of birds floating above the night sky in unison, and reacting to the space around them. 

Desert Swarm is curated by Jérôme Sans.


Read more:
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia – Noor Riyadh 2023: Inside The Biggest and Brightest Festival of Light And Art In The World
Architectural Digest – Noor Riyadh 2023: The 11 Best Lighting Installations at Saudi Arabia’s Light Art Festival
Timeout – Get inspired at the free Noor Riyadh exhibition

We collaborated with Louis Vuitton to create an aerial performance for their 2024 Men’s Pre-Fall fashion show. Taking place on Hong Kong’s Avenue of Stars, on November 30th, the finale featured our fleet in yesterday’s night sky.

The theme of Pharrell’s first Pre-Fall show was from Hawaii to Hong Kong and incorporated aquatic themes, referencing the passage of time. This was reflected in the aerial performance, as designed by Ralph Nauta and Lonneke Gordijn especially for this collection.

We would like to congratulate Pharrell on a beautiful new collection and a spectacular show.

With warm thanks to Villa Eugenie and Whitney Ferrare.

Video by Finn Bech & Caio Silva
Drone footage by DMD Drones

We could not be more excited to share this news: Amsterdam is gaining a new museum! The Drift Museum, opening in early 2025, is founded together with the owner of the renovated listed building Van Gendt Hallen, Eduard Zanen.

Our space-filling artworks, and performative installations will be enhanced by the grand and industrial character of the Van Gendt Hallen; five factory halls in the centre of Amsterdam designed by architect Dolf van Gendt in 1898.

The Drift Museum is the outcome of everything we have been working towards for the past 17 years. We hope it will be a place that generates wonder and emotional responses from our visitors and where they feel more connected to our planet and nature.

We cannot wait to welcome you all! Until then, keep an eye out on www.driftmuseum.com 

Selected Press
Artnet: Artist Duo Drift Will Open a Museum in Amsterdam to Showcase Their Epic Installations in Their ‘Full Glory’
NRC: In 2025 kun je varen naar het nieuwe Drift Museum in
De Volkskrant: Een hal vol zwevende betonblokken: Drift begint eigen museum met oprichter Bugaboo
Financieel Dagblad: geen bugaboo hoofdkantoor maar een museum met zwevende betonblokken
Wallpaper: Drift Museum, a blockbusting experiential space, is set to open in Amsterdam in 2025

Photo by Valentina Vos

Franchise Freedom in Central Park was the biggest public art installation since Christo’s The Gates. The performance was the result of five years close collaboration between DRIFT, Drone Stories, the New York City Mayor’s Office and Therme US.

Scaled from the piece’s original 300 drones to 1,000, Franchise Freedom is a poetic blend of art and technology. Based on complex algorithmic patterns developed from more than ten years of research into starlings’ flight behavior, the site-specific artwork mimics the birds’ murmurations, creating the illusion of a flock of birds floating above the night sky in unison, and reacting to the space around them. With this work, we hope to unite audiences through experiences that bring people, space and nature together.

Credits
Produced by Drone Stories
In collaboration with Fishko
In partnership with Therme Group
Drones by Nova Sky Stories

Selected Press
New York Times: Flight of the Drones Lights Up Central Park
The Washington Times: Flock of 1000 drones light up the night in New York’s Central Park
Designboom: central park was shrouded in a flock of 1,000 luminous drones by DRIFT
WWD: Why There Were 1,000 Purple-lit Drones Buzzing Above Central Park
Whitewall: DRIFT Presents Franchise Freedom in New York and Worldwide
ABC News: Drone display over Central Park lights up night sky
CNN: Watch 1,000 drones fly over Central Park in stunning aerial art performance