About the Project

Flickering Souls invites visitors into a contemplative environment—visually striking, emotionally resonant, and grounded in urgent realities. Brunner, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2020 at the age of 33, created this installation to spark curiosity, reflection, and connection. His intention is to amplify the voices of those who can no longer speak for themselves. ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a progressive and always-fatal neurodegenerative disease that gradually impairs a person’s ability to move, speak, and ultimately breathe. Most individuals live two to five years after diagnosis. 

At the center of the installation are 256 illuminated portraits, each representing a person diagnosed with ALS. Every portrait is paired with a single independent light that flickers on and off. Over time, these lights extinguish, mirroring the gradual death of motor neurons—the cells responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the muscles. Through this choreography of flickering and fading, Brunner converts the subtle progression of ALS into an immediate and embodied experience. 

Flickering Souls asks viewers to reflect on accessibility, advocacy, and the lived realities of those affected by ALS. The work raises questions about presence, disappearance, and the urgency of awareness while honoring the thousands of individuals and families impacted each year. 

This installation serves as both a memorial and a call to attention: a luminous reminder of the humanity behind every diagnosis and a powerful statement on the continued need for understanding, research, and compassion.