04.05.2026 | Gigantic spectacle of light: LED tree safely showcased thanks to Dolezych

A tree, 35 metres tall, with a crown 30 metres wide – and made entirely of light. What sounds futuristic is the centrepiece of the new exhibition “Mythos Wald” at the Gasometer Oberhausen. The gigantic indoor light installation towers in the 100-metre-high airspace of the industrial monument. What visitors do not see: Without the BlackSeries spur gear hoists this spectacular work of art would never have reached its move the tree, which consists of around 2,500 metres of LED cables, into position, 18 specially manufactured spur gear hoists were used. Each of them has a load capacity of 2,000 kilograms and features – deviating from the standard – chains long enough to lift loads from a height of 40 metres.

This solution was developed in collaboration with the project partner zitras Gesellschaft für sichere Höhenarbeiten mbH from Berlin and is individually tailored to the conditions in the Gasometer.

“The course of the project and the collaboration with Dolezych worked extremely well,”

concludes Matthias Pohlmann, project manager at zitras.

The collaboration between Dolezych and zitras on cultural projects has a long tradition: the two companies already worked successfully together over 30 years ago during Christo’s wrapping of the Reichstag. Since then, the team has regularly mastered challenges at great heights – as it has now in the Gasometer Oberhausen.

The impressive LED tree was created by the pioneers of media art, Ars Electronica Solutions from Austria. Preparations began more than a year before the exhibition opening.

“An exhibition like this is not planned in three months. It involves years of preparation and teamwork,”

explains Jeanette Schmitz, curator and managing director of Gasometer Oberhausen GmbH.

Setting up the tree’s framework alone required around 15 people working over several days. In total, about 100 people were involved in bringing the installation to life, including lighting artists and engineers. The aim was to create an emotional highlight within the exhibition with the tree. It is intended to form the finale of the “Forest Trilogy”, which explores the forest across several levels of the Gasometer from different perspectives. The LED tree itself is more than just an eye-catcher: through its animation, it depicts metabolic cycles, weather scenarios and the changing seasons of the forest – all accompanied by music and sound design. According to Anja Keienburg, press spokesperson for the Gasometer, the installation is one of the largest indoor light installations in the world.

Therefore, it is particularly rewarding for us to know that our products played an essential role in the installation. In addition to the specially manufactured customised spur gear hoists, our DoForce round slings and shackles were also used to ensure a safe installation.

Withstory. The previous exhibition attracted over 1.5 million visitors – according to the organiser, one of the most visited single exhibitions worldwide.

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