LIGHT VESSELS TRIO, 2016
Light sculptures created for the Naviguer à vue performance: Naviguer à vue
This series of light vessels is inspired by movement research on navigation, migration, and passage: in spiritual, physical and emotional realms. The three motifs convey themes of movement: time, objects and light.
Originally imagined as a theatrical set object to accompany the Naviguer à vue performance, the vessel is an objet d’art dramatically defines space with refracted light and shadow.
Due to their material, they have primordial yet futuristic qualities. The scale and form renders them both mystic yet bodily objects. Each motif is related to a historical astronomical observation (as were ancient navigation tools such as antikythera), thus connecting our inhabited space to celestial space.
ANALEMMA
The Analemma traces the movement of the sun in the sky throughout the year, seen from one place on earth at the same time every day, thus illuminating the movement of time. This diagonal figure-8 pathway was first officially visualized through the use of mass consumer photography in the 1970s (see NASA).
ECLIPSE
The solar Eclipse diagonal traces the movement of a solar eclipse throughout one day, from afternoon to nightfall. A solar eclipse occurs when the path of the moon crosses the path of the sun in the sky, thus illuminating the movement of celestial bodies. An eclipse is also only possible to view because of our own planet’s movement. It is essentially a dance trio. This particular drawing was inspired by the first accurately photographed solar eclipse in 1851.
CONSTELLATIONS
The Constellations trace the movement of light from objects in the cosmos to our eyes, and how we humans have chosen to create shapes, patterns and myths from these seemingly random forms. The two constellations depicted are Hydra (the water serpent) and Boötes (the work horse). The oldest Hydra myth dates to 700 BCE and the first record of Boötes dates to Ptolomey around 200 ACE.
Eclipse path
Brass, sterling silver
9”x3.75” / 22cm x 9.5cm
Hydra (water serpent) & Boötes (work horse)
Brass, sterling silver
9”x3.75” / 22cm x 9.5cm
Analemma
Brass, sterling silver
9”x4” cylinder / 22cm x 9.5cm
Photography: Shanita Sims (editorial), Sean Campbell