| contact name | Elisabeth Sylvan |
| artists' names | Elisabeth Sylvan |
| artists' locations | Somerville, MA USA |
| art name | Bodies of Light |
| art media | Light and motors |
| art dimensions | 59"w x 63"h |
| art date | 2005 |
| art description | How can life be drawn from a machine? In "Bodies of Light"
servo-controlled white lights push against white fabric. They writhe
and contort, creating kaleidoscopic patterns. |
| art proposal | Bodies of light surprise the viewer with unexpected use of light and by the unpredictable nature of its movement. The piece consists of moving lights behind a white sheet all mounted on a stretcher with a piece of plywood on the back. The front has a thin, elastic cloth stretched tightly over it. 100 LEDs are mounted to the plywood and many of them are moved by servos. The light pushed against the sheet yields surprising and remarkably successful visual results. The lights shining through the sheets are pale shades of purple and blue with shadows in areas near where the tips of the lights press against the sheet. The sheet breaks up the light into subtly kaleidoscopic patterns. Because the lights are pushed against the sheets and are loosely attached to the servos, they move like they are organic, living and not mechanical things. They writhe and contort behind the sheet and as they do, the kaleidoscopic patterns and shadows change and move. |
| art placard | How can life be drawn from a machine? In "Bodies of Light"
servo-controlled white lights push against white fabric. They writhe
and contort, creating kaleidoscopic patterns. |
| art url | http:://www.media.mit.edu/~sylvan/nipple.html |
| date | Sunday, February 13, 2005 |
| time | 5:29 PM EST |
| contact affiliation | MIT Media Lab |
| contact address1 | 42 Curtis Ave |
| contact city | Somerville |
| contact state | MA |
| contact zip | 02144 |
| contact phone1 | 617 233 4433 cell |
| contact phone2 | 617 253 6739 |
| contact email | sylvan@media.mit.edu |
| art status | The final version is not yet completed. A proof-of-concept of this piece was created in an afternoon (see url.) All materials have been purchased, the stretcher has been built, and this week I will begin setting up the servos. Since the materials are not difficult to assemble, the design is simple, and I have built a version previously, building the piece should take no longer than 2 full days. It will be complete by early March. If you like, I will be happy to provide you with video then. |
| art maintenance | All it requires is being plugged in to a wall outlet. No maintenance necessary. |
| art auto | Plug it in. Unplug it. |
| art sound | No sound requirements. The motors make a noise that can be heard when you stand close to it, but should not generally be that noticeable. |
| art light | It produces a soft light. It works best in a low-light room, but does not require total darkness. See url. |
| art needs | The piece needs to be hung from a wall. It is mounted on a stretcher and has eyes on the back with which to to hang it. |
| art safety | No safety issues whatsoever. |