Early Life
Born on 25 August 1951 in Hanover,聽Germany, 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 theatre 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聽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 鈥嬧�媔nstalling blue illuminated gates on 175 roofs in Hamburg, the gateway to the world 鈥� and met with rejection. 'Only the football World Cup saved my project after all,' Batz says. 'I had never thought of football goals.'
Theatre Work
Together with Horst Schroth, Batz founded the independent theatre group Theater Zwischen T眉r und Angel in Hamburg in 1970. More productions in the field of street and children's theatre followed.
Light Art
After his time as a dramaturge at Kampnagel (1990鈥�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 Schw盲bisch 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 of Germany, he showed the Reichstag in Berlin 'in the right light'. He also illuminated the famous Theatro Municipal de S茫o Paulo in the Brazilian metropolis.
Prizes and Promotions
- 2003: Alexander Zinn Prize from the City of Hamburg
- 2005: LUCI, the International City People Light Award
- 2008: Hamburg Citizen of the Year, awarded by Radio HH1 (Kultur)
- 2011: Rolf-Mares-Award for Theatre in Hamburg
- 2013: Herbert Wehner Medal
- 2014: Biermann-Ratjen Medal, awarded by the Hamburg Senate
- 2018: Honorary Lock Keeper, awarded by the Congregation of the Alster Lock Keepers
- 2028: Book Prize of the Hamburg State and University Library
- 2020: Obermayer German Jewish History Award
- 2021: Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- 2025: Hamburg Citizens' Award
Blue Port Hamburg
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. Apart from that, 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.
