Simple Harmonic Motion #11 for Light at Blenheim Palace (2014)

  • Simple Harmonic Motion #11 for Light at Blenheim Palace, Blenheim Palace, Oxford, UK, 29 Sep 2014 · Commissioned by Blenheim Art Foundation

This project is part of the Simple Harmonic Motion series.

Kinetic light & sound installation at Blenheim Palace, UK, 2014. Commissioned by Blenheim Art Foundation.

See Simple Harmonic Motion for general information on this series.

Images

Installation view excerpts

Installation, sky view

Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) is an ongoing series of work investigating complexity from simplicity – specifically the emergence of complex behaviour through the interaction of simple multilayered rhythms. It is an ode to chaos and order, driven by the collisions between man and machine; the harmonies, tensions and conflicts between science, technology, culture, ethics, tradition and religion. It is inspired by natural and mathematical phenomena, as well as works by the likes of Norman Mclaren, John Whitney, Steve Reich, John Cage, Gyorgi Ligeti and Edgar Varèse.

Simple Harmonic Motion for Light is a site specific sound and light installation for robotic spotlights and surround sound. It builds on the line of inquiry in the SHM series of works, using light as a sculptural material, extending this investigation into a spatial dimension in the form of a kinetic sound and light sculpture. Singularly each row of light beams acts as a two-dimensional plane of light deforming in three dimensions. Collectively, multiple planes of light beams interact with each other to create complex modulating surfaces and volumes modulating. Finally, the projection of the beams on the clouds in the sky unwrap the patterns back into two dimensions, as they are originally simulated in software, though distorted through the physical imperfections of the lights and the clouds.

Made with openFrameworks.

Series

More works in the Simple Harmonic Motion series.

Selected Exhibitions, Performances & Presentations(2 / 2)

Only selected shows with project pages are listed below. For more complete exhibition and performance history please see Show History.

Words(2 / 2)

The artist’s own writing about this work.

Press(16 / 16)

Articles, reviews and other press relating to this work.

Interviews(4 / 4)

Books(1 / 1)

Catalogs(1 / 1)

Other Coverage(8 / 8)

News(2 / 2)

Awards & Fellowships(1 / 1)

Commissions(2 / 2)

Collections(1 / 1)

  • 2014  Blenheim Art Foundation, Oxfordshire, UK

Show History(8 / 8)

Performances(1 / 1)

  • 2015  FutureEverything, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK, 25 Feb 2015

Group Exhibitions(7 / 7)

Details

Medium
80x moving head spotlights; 16ch sound; custom software
Duration
infinite loop
Dimensions
40m x 40m