song’s lair

Volume Exhibition in  November  to Jan in 2006 in V&A

Initiator: lighting designers United Visual Artists (UVA) and Robert Del Naja (alias 3D) of Massive Attack and his long-term co-writer Neil Davidge.

 Volume is a sculpture of light and sound, an array of light columns positioned in the centre of the garden. The luminous interactive installation responds to human movement, creating a series of audio-visual experiences. Audience’s step and action sound can trigger a fantastic display of light and sound

Since Peter Forde gave us a very nice presentation which talked about using Pure Data programming language to create interaction between human and technology, I am really interested in this field. This presentation gives me many fresh ideas about Digital Arts, especially the explanation of interactive installation which makes me so excite However, it is irrelevant with my project, but I still want to know more about it. Because in my mind, interactivity has been regarded as central characteristic of digital arts, it is necessary to get more information about it.  

Technically, interactivity provides a return channel between viewers and information in communication system. In this field, human and animals can control and change the course of an artwork, in which artist intends to explore the possibilities when interacting begins.

Since the rapid development of technology, there is a general movement of interactivity in digital arts. It has begun to explore the field of human physical presence, which as the collective framework of sensibility and the practice of though and knowledge. In the beginning, it is simple point-and-check browsing on computer by people. Recently, digital arts tend to provide the intimate interaction and communication between viewers，technologies and artists by virtual environment and installations. Viewers can have an active influence and experience of creating meaning on information or art works by adding to it or changing it.

Different with other forms of art, interactive installation tends to ask audiences questions about discovering propose and meaning that artists are trying to transmit towards the piece of work, rather than explaining the meaning to audiences. In the interactive installation, human can become a real partner in device to trying to ‘feel’, which can make a physical and emotional dialogue with machine. Recently, the ranges of new media have radically broad, which considers from how we get information, to how explore our physical bodies, to how our bodies affect and represent our information to new technologies. The border between physical selves and technologies has become more and more blurry.  

Sculpture of Ray

Aims

The ray of light is a beam of light which is ever-changing and can create various effects on objects. Human’s livings and movements are involving with the light everyday, and people’s experience of perceiving light concludes both natural and artificial light. Thereby, the purpose of my project: “Sculpture of ray” is to focus on presenting the artificial ray of light. It records and reflects the various changes of ray on objects. This project aims to present 3D effect by projecting and shifting rays on a particular item. The virtual projections print images on item which is like using ray to sculpture.

Objectives

The main objectives of the project are as followings,

1. To produce high-quality 2D animation to represent the various changes of ray.2.To explore the various possibilities of using 2D animation on reflecting 3D effect by recording and reflecting the trace of ray.3.Using the shift of rays to achieve a visual change of the item.  4.A stable system to enable smooth operation.

Rationale

Light and object

The surfaces of object emit, transmit and reflect light and then propagate the light to human eyes (Carr, p60, 1995). People believe that light makes object become visible. However, thinking from another side, we may claim that the light makes itself visible through the object which plays as medium. Thus, the object and light have an intimate and essential interrelationship that makes the object appear as it does (Baas & Jacob, p143, 2004). Furthermore, light determines the colour of object either. Light is visual energy, through changing the amount and quality of light, the quality of the colour will also change (Bleicher, p6, 2005). For instance, it shifts from bright to dark or from cool to warm. Light and object is inseparable, they interact with each other to present the human eyes the visibility of the world. In addition, different types of light sources have their different effects of object. As for the artificial ray of light, different materials bring out different range of hues. For example, tungsten or incandescent bulbs can produce warm range of hues, as reds, yellows or orange; while fluorescent lights bring out much cooler hues by burning a cool light, such as green, blue (Bleicher, p7, 2005). Hence, object endlessly changes shade of hues when the underlying types of artificial light are changing. This change may lead to various dramatic differences in the course of using different light sources. Meanwhile, the shifting of hues can produce a magical effect which makes the size and shape of the object have unbelievable visual changes.      

Light reflection in traditional art areas

The traditional source of light used to be subject to natural light, and the light reflection was belittled in some forms of art. For instance, the basic style of traditional Chinese paintings is focusing on the tip of Chinese ink brush to present everything. Traditional Chinese painters disregard proportion, perspective, and light, because basic style of traditional Chinese paintings strives on using line drawing to reflect the figure of objects（Asian Cultural Centre，p5,1973）. Different from Western paintings, Chinese artists find that people view their surroundings from a mobile focal point (Traditional Culture, 2006). Thus, they want to free from time and space to present both far and near things in their paintings. In contrast with Chinese painting, to some western paintings, light is as a supplement which can reflect and emphasize the surrounding and ambience of paintings due to light and shadow always interact with surroundings. For example, Baroque painting emphasizes strong contrasts of light and shadow, which can represent dramatic scenes and generate powerful relief effects (Feldman, p176, 1985).

Why reflect the ray of light?

Nowadays, modern people’s experiences with light are radically different than in the past. Rather than experiencing the natural light of the sun and the darkness of the sunless night, we are now flooded with artificial light 24 hours a day. Meanwhile, unlike the natural light, the artificial ray of light is more active, more predictable and easier to control. It also can give people much stronger visual shock. Natural light is endlessly changing in every minute of every day of every season, while we can control the level and quality of illumination of artificial light (Corrigan, et al p182, 1997). Thus, creating digital work which interacts with ray of light is an interesting try. Meanwhile, conducting audiences to observe the visual changes of objects that ray projected can make they consider the active role that objects play.

Cases studies

Some artists use light in both the real and metaphorical sense in their art works which inspire me. They create the new meaning that ‘light has today’, which changes our view of the light. They engage on exploring the possibilities of light, not only the colour, the movement, the relationship with objects, but also the new definition of light. The American artist Dan Flavin engaged on artificial light sculpture and installation, which aims to make viewers get the real feeling and experiences of light itself, and make them aware of natural rather than artificial (Acton, p214, 2004). He arranged his materials (fluorescent light) in various combinations of lengths, sizes and colours (National Gallery of Art, 2006). He used simple geometric fluorescent to capture the indefinable dimension of light, and creates a complex, rhythmic blending of colour, light, and perspective. In addition, another Japanese pop artist and composer Takagi Masakatsu has great interests in using video and music to react with ‘light’ and reflecting light and shadow. In his video, human and animals figures dissolve into abstract colours and shapes (Masakatsu, 2006).In this project, I am trying to use video to illustrate and reflect the abstract changes of ray, and emphasise to explore the visual changes of objects. Meanwhile, I will attempt to explore the interrelationship between the light and object.

Outcomes

For completing this project satisfactorily, I will be able to demonstrate:

1.Practical skills in techniques used in this project. 2.Practical skills in management of projects. 3.Ability to express the author’s idea in the digital visual work. 4.Ability to research in the right context.

Methodologies

The screening

-    ResearchIn order to ensure the precision of final digital installation, a systematical review of previous researches about light in respect of both science and culture is necessary and essential.

-     Moving images Moving visual element is a good way to present ever-changing objects and stir up the feeling of audiences. I would like to use high-contrasting black and white to present the ray of light. The idea is inspired from traditional Chinese ink painting. The clear colour can directly reflect the pure impression of light. Although most people believe that the audio element is a very important supplement to video, as for my project, audio element is not necessary in light reflection. Thus, I intend to take a challenge- to produce a video without audio element, which can ensure audiences concentrate on observing the changes of light.    

I would like to make a video with Premiere Pro and After Effects to start with, and then project this video on particular object.

Research       

- Visual ResearchI would like to consult resources from library, internet and photos taken by myself. In addition, I would like to do some researches on both natural and artificial light sources.   

- Contextual researchI intend to review relevant artists’ art works and essays which are relative to my project by finding information in library, internet and exhibitions.

Risk Assessment

- Because the final work will be displayed in a dark sealed room, viewer may be in danger of losing direction. Thus, it is necessary to set up a clear way out sign. Additionally, to prevent the danger of instability of installation, I will check the installation again and again. Meanwhile, make sure the cables are connected correctly.