For our first Field/Collaborate module the theme is light and we have been asked to write a research blog post on this theme including 3 images with a short explanatory text.
It is something that has been on my mind lately as now that the clocks have gone back and the nights are longer, a lot of places that you would normally visit during the day and in the summer months such as gardens and stately homes are trying to increase their winter revenue with nighttime events involving light installations.
https://www.enchantedforest.org.uk/
https://www.edenproject.com/visit/whats-on/shadows-and-light-christmas-experience
https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/whats-on/glow-at-wisley
I guess this raises the question of whether these installations are art or just christmas decorations/events. Where do you draw the line? I’m not so sure, so I’m not going to include them in my 3 pieces, but just thought I would mention as it’s something that’s been on my mind!
So…
- Dezeen
Since Pip recommended I look at the Dezeen website for my design sheet I have been hooked! Here’s a couple of lighting designs I’ve seen on the Dezeen website:
Jesse Ede – Orbit Light
https://www.dezeen.com/2018/08/30/orbit-light-jesse-ede-lighting-design/
I love most things about this – the concept, the way the light goes from a warm glow reflected in the shiny bronze interior or a cool blue when reflected from the blue exterior, that you can swivel it around, that “According to the designer the dome creates a “waxing and waning shadow” on the ceiling above the light, creating an ever-changing cinematic experience.” It’s just beautiful and clever and could have been cheap and tacky looking, but it’s very elegant. If you click on the link there is a video of it moving around. I was a bit disappointed that it has to be manually turned. I do wonder whether it can be made to properly orbit around though – so it’s constantly moving a tiny amount and maybe goes from the bright blue in the early evening to the warm glow later when you’re wanting to relax and getting sleepy.
Haberdashery – Dawn to Dusk lamps
I like the idea behind this and that it might actually be helpful as well as beautiful. I like that the light slides up and down and changes colour, but I wonder if it can be made to come on as dusk falls and go off as dawn approaches, gradually changing in line with the sun on the opposite side of the hemisphere rather than having to be manipulated?
There are loads more interesting new designs – these are my 2 favourites!
2) Bruce Nauman – Neon artist
A lot of Bruce Naumans’ neon work portrays quite graphic sexual images, which aren’t really my thing, but he has done a few that aren’t so shocking. I get that neon lights are often associated with advertising, especially in seedy parts of cities and red light districts, but the pieces I like are the ones where he uses the flashing on and off of different lights to play on words, rather than making figures perform sex acts!
I chose this piece as it exploits the properties of neon lights. The wording is around the top of a building with 7 vices and 7 virtues overlapping each other – the neon lights alternate depicting either vices or virtues.
3) Antonio Gaudi – Sagrada Familia stained glass windows
http://www.sagradafamilia.org/en/light-and-colour/
For my third piece I wanted to explore stained glass windows. I am not religious, however I love colour and am fascinated by the idea of using the light of the sun to illuminate images and project them onto white walls like temporary light artworks.
Gaudi is better known for his architecture and mosaic work, but the windows in the Sagrada Familia are stunning. Unfortunately when I visited 20 years ago I lost my camera, so I don’t have any original photo’s, but the feeling of the colours washing over me will stay with me forever. They had only done one side when I visited, so I didn’t get to see the contrast between the scenes that are illuminated by the morning sun and setting sun.
clairemaloney 