Early Life
Born on 25 August, 1951 in Hanover, Michael Batz is a German author, dramaturge, director and light-artist. In 1976, Batz completed his studies in German, History and Philosophy.
Career
Batz discovered his passion for light as a student in Marburg when he had to fill in for a lighting technician at a local theater at short notice. He has lived in Hamburg since 1976, worked as a dramaturge, written plays for the radio and the stage, filmed documentaries, and fought for approval for his first light projects. For example, at Hamburg's Alsterhaus he wanted to project the stanzas of a poem onto the back of the building and encountered resistance. Of this experience, he says, 'I had to obtain nine special permits for the temporary special use of the public space'. And when he presented his lighting concept for the Speicherstadt in 1994, the first thing he heard was: 'You're crazy.' But Batz was undeterred and reached his goal after five years. At some point in Shanghai, he saw glowing mandarin hats and other Chinese symbols on rooftops. Then, in 2006, he had the idea of installing blue illuminated gates on 175 roofs in Hamburg, the gateway to the world – and met with rejection. 'Only the football World Cup saved my project after all,' remembers Batz, 'I had never thought of football goals.'
Theater work
Together with Horst Schroth, Batz founded the independent theater group Theater Zwischen Tür und Angel in Hamburg in 1970. More productions in the field of street and children's theater followed.
Light art
After his time as a dramaturge at Kampnagel (1990–1994), Batz took over as artistic direction for the Hafenkulturtage and the Theater in der Speicherstadt.
Today he is best known for his light installations. In addition to lighting Hamburg's warehouse district, Batz has done designs for the historic Kaiviertel in Salzburg, the market square in Schwäbisch Hall, the banks of the Rhine in Cologne and Bellevue Palace in Berlin. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Federal Republic, he showed the Reichstag in Berlin 'in the right light'. He also illuminated the famous Theatro Municipal de São Paulo in the Brazilian metropolis.
Prizes and promotions
In 2003, he received the Alexander Zinn Prize from the City of Hamburg and in 2005 the LUCI, the International City People Light Award.
In 2006, he illuminated the Reichstag in Berlin and placed 'Blue Goals' on Hamburg's rooftops.
As early as 2008, he illuminated 30 ships and buildings in the port of Hamburg with 2,000 blue light sources for the Cruise Days Hamburg event.
In 2010, the Blue Port Hamburg project was realized again on a larger scale for Hamburg Cruise Days.
In 2011, Batz was awarded the Hamburg Theater Rolf Mares Prize.
In 2013, Michael Batz received the Herbert Wehner Medal.
In 2014, Michael Batz received the Biermann-Ratjen Medal for his work in various artistic disciplines.
Blue Port Hamburg
Batz illuminated Bergedorf Castle on April 20, 2012 during the 2nd Bergedorf Art Show. In 2012, he even illuminated the Elbphilharmonie as part of Blue Port Hamburg. Batz was last awarded the Herbert Wehner Medal in 2013.
