BISOL fulfills its social and environmental responsibility through collaboration with French-Slovenian multimedia artist Norma De Saint Picman, who imparts artistic value to decommissioned solar modules.
At first glance, the solar industry and art may not seem to have much in common. However, appearances can be deceiving. The aesthetic appeal showcased by the solar modules of the Slovenian manufacturer BISOL Group, and the pursuit of perfection, intertwined throughout their production process akin to the creation of an artwork, are not the only points of intersection.
With an awareness of the importance of environmental and social responsibility, BISOL Group has been collaborating for several years with the academic painter Norma De Saint Picman, who uses damaged solar modules as canvases for her paintings during production. Picman first encountered the idea of painting on solar modules through an auction of artistically decorated panels on the American online platform Paddle 8.
"I have always been fascinated by the transformation of solar energy into electricity, as the process organically connects with the concept of sustainability and the 'upcycling' concept, where we enrich and give new function and value to waste material through artistic creation," says De Saint Picman.
"In the sense of 'Duchamp's ready-made,' the solar panel is transferred to the gallery space. The flow of electrical energy is replaced by visually aesthetic-experiential energy that arises in the dialogue between the panel and the viewer," emphasizes Picman, who graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Ljubljana and continued her education at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts in Paris.
From the idea of painting on solar modules to the decision to collaborate with the only Slovenian manufacturer of solar modules, not much time has passed. "I am pleased that BISOL recognized the idea as interesting and has been supporting my work with donations of demaged modules for years. The painting 'Blooming Magnolia' also enriches their business premises," says De Saint Picman.
While her first paintings on solar modules were created using acrylic techniques, the extensive cycle Noravisionsolar is based on classical oil techniques. All of Picman's works follow plein air principles, as they are painted outdoors, mostly in spring. Thematically, the paintings draw inspiration from classical painting techniques such as landscapes, veduta, floral still life, urban motifs, and portraits of famous personalities. Individual cycles of her works have been presented in dialogue with magnificent historical architectural environments, such as the Glass Cathedral Santa Chiara on the Venetian island of Murano, Plečnik's lapidary, and Strmol Castle. The just-concluded exhibition at Bogenšperk Castle continues in the virtual gallery Noravisionsolarmetaverse - The Garden of Eden. From the beginning of 2018 to the present day, Picman has decorated more than sixty solar panels out of the planned one hundred, actively seeking a suitable exhibition space of castle dimensions.