Masters of Light

“Masters of light” is the name of the series on some of the brightest contemporary light designers and light artists on the tv show euromaxx (DW-TV). You won’t believe the things these talented artists created. They make poetry out of light. Whether it’s just a simple lamp, or the complete façade on a building, or an installation that mimics the sun….they seem to know it all.

Artists:

Paul Cocksedge: This young artist likes to play it simple, and at the same time appealing. Some of his works are a flower vase, which only lights up when a plant is placed in it, and will stay that way for as long as the plant is alive. Or this simple, tiny bulb cleverly placed between the two folds of a sheet. Simple yet powerfully abstract. He likes to experiment with things. For example, he once taped some plastic cups together and put them in an oven. They were distorted but held the shape. So he turned that into a giant spherical lamp. He created a lamp that is triggered by human contact. He even went as far to designing lighting for a dome that lights up by a kiss.

Olafur Eliasson: Olafur likes to play with moving lights. “The spectator plays an important part in my installations”, he says. He mainly uses projectors or giant floodlights in his projects. He became famous with the installation “The Sun”. It’s a circular light installation that mimics the sun. As you can see, the effect is totally unreal. Another installation is a dark corridor, with water sprouting from the ceiling, while simple white lights keeps flashing on the water droplets. You just have to see it to believe it!

Titia ex.: Well I’m not entirely sure if it’s the name of the company or the artist herself…anyway, her best work is a light installation in the shape of a flower. Straight glass rods integrated with lights makes up the petals of the flower. The main attraction of the flower is that it changes its color according to its surroundings. Sensors were put at the end of the glass rods to achieve this effect.

Realities United (Jan and Tim Edlar): Jan and Tim Edlar from the institute Realities United are total Pros when it comes to design lightings for Building facades. Their work is conceived as contemporary designing. For instance this ceiling installation, a lamp in the shape of a huge digital clock that tells time, yet the total brightness of the lamp always remains the same. They are best known for their extravagant façade installation.

Also see Mischa Kuball.