Star dust! By Lisa Boissy & Laura Malroux

The Pleiades

“My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations” said John Green in The fault in Our Stars. 

A constellation is a group of stars in the celestial sphere which make up a particular form that humans have named. Scientists and astrologers are fond of watching and studying them because they are spectacular, majestic and magical!  Because they are inaccessible, people find them intriguing. There is a mystery about them that inspires not just scientists but artists too…

The constellations have inspired an innovative art project using light and dance: The Pleiades by the dance company Enra.

The choreographer and dancer Yasuku Mochizuki was inspired by the story of the Pleiades. Orion decided to hunt the Pleiades: seven sisters and their mother. To save their lives, the girls implored the Gods who made them first into doves and then into constellations. In the show, we recognize the story.

Mochizuki uses light in all his shows: Torque Starter, Primitive, etc. Light is the Enra trademark.

Primitive

In The Pleiades, combining elements of dance, performance art, music, technology, light and more, the versatile Japanese troupe has made magic. The show tells us an incredible story. Thanks to the stage’s emptiness and simplicity the spectator is flabbergasted by the dancers’ performances. The two graceful dancers, Saya Watatani and Maki Yokoyami, are perfectly coordinated with the light. Light becomes a partner, a friend. During the show, we are always wondering if it is it the dancer who leads the light or the light which leads the dancer.

It is a really original performance. Different constellations are included and are in perfect harmony with the reality. The stage is plunged into darkness, and the only light source is the constellation. So, we are impressed: we can see all the dance figures because the light follows the dancers. Furthermore, Saya and Maki perform in unison and with the light. Everyone has his own interpretation and his own feelings. There dancers make it spectacular, just like the constellations! There is also curiosity: the spectator wants to see more after each move! In fact, all the emotions can be felt: pleasure, satisfaction, excitement...

Here, the light doesn’t only represent the different constellations of the Pleiades, but also the Northern Lights and water splashing. So light is diverted from its principal function. That’s the major characteristic of art, to make us see things differently. The movements are simple, but perfectly done. It’s a delight to the eyes. Moreover, the chief attraction of this show is surely the fact that the dancers seem to control all this light power and, suddenly, it’s dark and we just see the shining constellations.

Torque Starter

Even the people who are not very interested by constellations learn a lot about them, while being happy to learn. Even those not very fond of dance find it interesting because it shows them a new generation of dancers and performances.

“Wow!” is what everyone says after having seen the show. If you have not seen it yet, go!

Shady art... By Ines Petit & Liz Gorsen

Light is the opposite of shadow, isn’t it? But Diet Wiegman, an artist from The Netherland, disagrees. This multidisciplinary visual artist uses light to create perfect shadows out of second-hand objects.

                                                                                                      

Wiegman was born on the 24^th January 1944 and grew up in an artistic environment as his father and grandfather were artists too. He studied at the Rotterdam Academy of Arts for four years.

Diet Wiegman in 2012

In his early twenties, he acquired fame as a progressive ceramist because of his truly realistic pieces that could not be distinguished from real objects.

A bulging bag (made of clay) which should go on a "diet"!

Diet Wiegman in 1984, Berlin

           

Because of his work in a multitude of disciplines, he's referred to as an "art omnivore" and launched an art movement which is named after him. His international breakthrough came about because of his ingenious shadow and light sculptures also known as shadow art.

The concept is about illuminating waste objects to create a contrasting image in the form of a highly detailed shadow.

Trashed!

Wiegman was a pioneer. By working with light and shadows for almost forty years, he has inspired a lot of artists through the years.

Deadly night shade...

When people ask him about his work, he simply replies: "I did not invent the phenomenon of shadow; I just make holes in the light!”

Moon(light)walk!

He loves to create art which goes against clichés, laughs at his own seriousness, and makes contradictions in his art. Sometimes it's physical: he destroys his own work to recreate new sculptures made out of the fragments.

Beastly beauty...

You don't need expensive materials to create a beautiful art project... Why not try doing a Wiegman-type work of art yourself?!

Firework displays are an art! By Claire Jourdet & Florine Charachon

People who create firework displays (spending many hours and much money in the process!) give huge performances to the delight of spectators. But, they are not considered artists. And why is a firework display not considered an art form in itself?

Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic, cultural, and religious purposes. Fireworks competitions are regularly held everywhere. Fireworks take many forms to produce the four primary effects: noise, light, smoke and floating materials (confetti for example.) They may be designed to burn with flames and sparks of many colours, like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, silver and gold.

The earliest documentation of fireworks is dated back to the 7^th century in China, where they were invented. They were used in many festivities. It is a part of the culture of China and many legends include fireworks. Important events and festivities such as the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) and the Mid-Autumn Festival were and still are times when fireworks are at the heart of celebrations. China is the largest manufacturer and exporter of fireworks in the world.

Fireworks play a key role in the most popular events of our modern world: an obvious example is the Olympic Games. In the opening ceremonies, fireworks are set off across the stadium when an athlete declares the games open. In the closing ceremonies, fireworks appear once again when the Olympic flame is put out. Fireworks are an unforgettable part of the event for hundreds of millions of people. They are artistic masterpieces surely?

Art is a diverse range of human activities and the products of those activities, usually involving imaginative or technical skill. According to this definition, fireworks and firework displays can be described as a real art form, and their creators as artists!

Some critics say fireworks are a way to burn money... But the pyrotechnic display that took place in broad daylight in Doha, Qatar, recently impressed all art lovers: Black Ceremony is the work of Cai Guo-Qiang, a Chinese national based in New York City and the world’s foremost fireworks artist. It kicked off his exhibition at the Arab Museum of Modern Art in the Qatari capital. He showed off his undeniable talent even though a daytime fireworks display might be considered by sceptics as an odd choice. The use of pastel-colours and black smoke made it an original performance. Cai also impressed millions of people with his fireworks display at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, and with his magnificent 4^th of July fireworks in New York City. And, as the fastest growing economy in the world, spending money on a daytime fireworks exhibit was no gamble for Qatar. Mayassa Bint Hamad al Thani, from the museum, said: “I thought it was spectacular. We are talking about doing a second show!”

Fireworks are at the heart of so many shows, paintings, photographs, and songs (like Katy Perry’s ‘Fireworks’ music video), it is about time firework “entertainers” were recognized as genuine artists!

Optical illusions! By Marion Nairabeze, Maëlle Rivalier & Camille Simonet

Click on this! http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/

First, look at these optical illusions:

 Who do you see? Monroe or Einstein?

Is it Gala or Lincoln?

An old couple or a guitarist and a woman?

What do you see?

In what direction is the train going? Difficult to guess, right?

Second, a short explanation of how vision works for curious people:

Click on this! http://www.acnr.co.uk/pdfs/volume6issue2/v6i2visual.pdf

Optical illusions are misperceptions of form, color, size or movement of objects. They are, for the eye, an altered perception of reality.

The eyes behave more or less like a camera. The eye has a diaphragm, an iris which lets in more or less light as it opens or closes. Behind the iris, a deformable lens, called the crystalline, allows the images to be formed on a sensitive membrane: the retina

The retina consists of rods and cones. Cones allow diurnal vision (color). There are three types of cones, receptive to red, green, blue. Rods allow night vision.

Under the influence of the light that enters through the iris, the rods and cones produce small amounts of energy and nerve impulses which are passed on up to the brain by the optical nerve. The brain then analyzes the information.

Optical illusions are errors of interpretation of our brain which tries to give meaning to all the information which is received even if there is none. This results in amplification of contrasts, creating contours, colors, perspectives, reliefs, etc.

Third, an explanation of an illusion:

1) Primary or geometric illusions

These illusions occur when the eye stops only on certain parts of the image (angles, symmetry axes, breaks lines). Then, these areas become more important than others, such as in the Titchener illusion.

2) Effect of angles

We underestimate obtuse angles and overestimate sharp corners because the eye has a tendency to bring the angles to a right angle. In a Zöllner illusion, the lines appear to us deformed because of small lines which are on the big ones. The oblique lines do not seem parallel though they actually are.

The same goes for the Müller-Lyer illusion. The eye does not pay attention to segments but sees first the angles at their end. It appears that one is larger than the other.

 3) Movement  illusion

It turns! It will make us dizzy. Don’t be afraid, you are not hallucinating, you are suffering from an movement illusion. The human eye gets tired fast when it stares at an object for a long time. If, however, we look next to the object, it avoids staring too intensely and the image strikes other segments of the retina which have their full capacity.

4) Artistic illusions

There are three types of artistic illusions. A group that shows illusion drawings gives rise to visual interpretations that are very different from the properties of the elements shown.

Our brain is used to seeing a real head. But here, the head consists of many animals: an elephant, a kangaroo, a bear... So the brain has trouble analyzing this image.

In the following picture we see a tree and the sea, but aren’t they something else? A baby, no?

Each drawing may result in at least two visual mutually exclusive interpretations. The observer can normally voluntarily move from one interpretation to another, once the different interpretations have been identified and given us some clues about the different interpretations.

This cartoon, created by Willian Hill in 1915, is entitled "My mother / My young woman." The image has two possible interpretations: you see the young woman or the old witch. It is sometimes difficult to switch from one to the other!

Impossible groups: different parts of each of the drawings give rise to conflicting interpretations. All items in this category cannot exist, or it would be highly unlikely that they exist in reality.

The Penrose triangle is an impossible object designed by the mathematician Roger Penrose in the 1950s. By the paradox between logic and reality, which extends to other spheres (cultural impossibility), impossible objects thus give rise to mathematical curiosities and artistic inspirations.

Optical illusions and cultures

"The influence of the culture and  of the environment on our visual perception ", this theory was explored for the first time by Robert Laws, a Scottish missionary, working at Malawi in Africa during the 19th century.

Look at this picture:

What do you see? What is the woman carrying on her head? When researchers put this question to African people, they answered “a box”. Then they asked “where does the scene take place?” This person with a culture with few “corners” naturally said that the family was sitting under a tree. We westerners, accustomed to comfort, see a scene which takes place in a room with a window with a view outside.

Finally, optical illusions show that our vision is always a matter of personal interpretation!

If you enjoyed our article, please send us a comment!

Aurora Borealis. By Matthieu Hollaender & Pierre Caillet

Igor is small. He is a member of an Inuit community. One evening, he was playing by himself not far from the family home. Suddenly he rushed home to talk to his grandfather.

“Grandpa, I think the Gods are sending us a message!”

“What are you saying my little boy? What did you see?”

“I saw a big spot of color spreading in the sky! What was it grandpa?

“Come and sit beside me, next to the fire, I'll tell you the story of this mystery. You are now old enough to understand.”

They huddle together under the caribou skin.

“There are a lot of stories about this extraordinary thing you have seen; each country has its explanation, different from ours, but they are all wrong! Look at our neighbors, they are real poets! They think that a fox wanders through the Arctic snow and lights up the sky thanks to its tail sowing sparks of snow, giving off colors. And the fishermen of the Ice Lakes believe that it is the reflection of herring scales on the water! For the Inuit from the south of Alaska, those of the Yukon River, this special light in the sky simply represents the souls of deer, salmon, seal or beluga dancing. But this light also represents a threat. That is why they hunt it with their knives. To discourage their children from playing outside too late, their parents tell them that this special light will catch them, cut off their heads and play soccer with their heads! Of course it’s not true, don’t worry, it’s a silly superstition!”

“So, what’s the real reason, Grandad?”

“As you know, the sun is guarded by the God Odor and the moon is protected by Elanore. They fight each other because they both want to rule the world. That is why there is a period of darkness followed by a period of light. We have been in darkness for 4 months now. It’s the same every year. It’s because of a trick played by Elanore on Odor. She hides Odor’s light. The colored spots that you saw are stardust from Odor’s torch; he is looking in all the nooks and crannies for his sun. These spots do not last forever in the sky because the sun god is careful not to get caught by Elanore. That is why it changes place quite very often.”

“I am going out to help Odor find his sun, Grandad!”

“Oh, no you're not! You go to bed now. You can help him tomorrow find his sun…”

Igor went to bed, and he dreamt of stars...

A heated debate on the nature of fire... By Simon Amado, Joachim Huon De Kermadec & Hugo Madebène

Lights!

In the cinema you can arrange the lights in such a way as to leave darkness between the area illuminated by the backlight and the area illuminated by the fill light, depending on how moody you want the shot to be. This works very well and usually the light is always used to enhance the expressions of the characters’ faces. It is the basic technique to put the character “in the spotlight”.

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari

1910s to 1930s

During the latter half of the 1910s, filmmakers adopted two significant new techniques, both derived from other art forms. One was the use of carbon arc spotlights, which had previously been used in theater and which allowed a strong light to be directed from a distance onto a particular actor or area of the set. The other was the use of diffusing screens, which already belonged to the repertoire of the still photographer. Diffusers could be used to transform a hard light into a soft light that did not cast such severe shadows. The increasing use of soft lighting techniques, whether they relied on reflectors or diffusers, had particular benefits for facial lighting. Soft lighting produced more flattering effects and, with the rise of the star system during this decade, it was becoming ever more important to make the actors look attractive. The dark was used to shoot movies with more drama, or for horror movies like Nosferatu by Murneau (1922). In the 1930s movies continued to be in black and white. They only used bright light in order to convey a happy emotion and to shoot comic films. 

The Third Man

1940s

In the 1940s, the techniques were more or less the same as in the 1930s. For example The Third Man by Carol Reed or The Birds by Hitchcock used the same techniques as in the 1930s.

1950s

In the 1950s, many movies ended with a sunset. The directors used really intense lights and filters. Sometimes, six filters were used on the camera, one to control the shadow and the other ones to control the colors.

Ivan's Childhood

1980s

In the 1980s, directors insisted on the landscapes which were lit with the natural light of the sun or really bright spots. They preferred natural elements. The movie Ivan’s Childhood by Tarkovski is the perfect example of this technique. There is a scene where a child goes straight in the marsh and a torch crosses the screen before the sunset.

The Silence of the Lambs

1990s

Using lights of different color temperatures was one of the techniques used. This means using lights of different colors in the same shot. It can be use to reinforce the emotions that the movie director wants to convey. It’s the technique the director of The Silence of The Lambs used to inspire fear when Hannibal Lecter appears… 

A.I.

2000s

One of the most used techniques in the years 2000 was silhouetting. It uses a dark subject and a very bright background to give a mysterious and a dark mood to give suspense. Also, the movies of this decade used a lot of light, especially in action movies like Avatar. In the movie A.I., the light reflects danger and mystery, a feeling of adventure. Then the lights convey hope when the child gets the possibility to talk to his mother. It is an angelic light, a really intense one. The visual elements became really important in the 2000s: the colors and the camera motions. The light has major importance in this decade. The use of a punctual light has an influence on the perception of the visual elements which must captivate the eyes of the spectators.

Lincoln

2010s

The movies of this decade favor grey tones. The movies are dark, like Lincoln by Steven Spielberg. The directors want to tone down colors in their movies. Warm colors have disappeared, the colors used are mostly grey and blue. The light must be blocked because the themes are dark and the directors don’t want the light to undermine this.

Rage against the dying of the light...

> Do not go gentle into that good night...

Symphony of lights in Hong-Kong! By Benoit Glénat & Foucauld de Cromières

Click HERE to watch a video!

> The biggest "son & lumière" in the world!

> What is a "son & lumière"?
> The brightest city

Every night at 8 p.m. in Victoria Harbour, Hong-Kong, you can see a gorgeous, a wonderful show, which is unique in the world. This event is called the “Symphony of lights”. It is the world´s largest daily show of light and sound. It uses more than 40 buildings on both sides of the harbour. For 13 minutes, the bay is filled with a multitude of colourful lights. Our press team has chosen to describe this ceremony to mark the 2015 International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies.

Since 17^th January 2004, it’s been possible to contemplate the suns of the night, the famous and amazing nightly multimedia spectacle of the island of Hong-Kong. Over 2,000 lighting techniques have been used, including search lights, halo light systems, flood lights, spot lights, special effect lights, lasers, optic fibre and 2500 LEDs, far more than you could possibly count! While the lights from the buildings light up the sky with myriad vivid colours, an especially composed soundtrack is audible from the Promenade of Stars, just across the harbour. The music and narration can be heard also by radio or on mobile phones. The city is in a total party state for 13 minutes! Moreover, the show is free and no admission ticket is required. So, if you want to have a memorable time in the ex-British colony, go to Victoria harbour and admire the beauty of modern technology.

A “son et lumière” is a sound and light show, a form of night time entertainment that is usually presented in an outdoor place of historic significance. Named on 21^st November 2005 the “World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show” by Guinness World Records, coloured lights, laser beams and searchlights perform in an unforgettable all-round spectacle that celebrates the energy, spirit and diversity of Hong Kong. There are five main themes: Awakening, Energy, Heritage, Partnership, and the finale, Celebration. This event was developed by the Tourism Commission of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

This unforgettable show is in constant evolution. 33 edifices initially took part in the show, but nowadays more than 40 skyscrapers and other buildings take part. This inimitable spectacle must be seen at least once in your lifetime!

A light touch. By Jean-Baptiste Gauthier & Antoine Fevre

Picasso draws with light

> Light painting

> Bosanko's graffiti

Have you heard of light painting? It’s painting in the air using a point of light and capturing the movement of light on a photo using a long camera exposure. It dates back to 1889, and was used by Frank Gilbreth in his scientific motion studies.

Photo by Gilbreth

Man Ray, in his 1935 series "Space Writing," was the first well-known art photographer to use the technique. Other famous artists such as Pablo Picasso used light painting in their work.

It seems a difficult technique, but in fact it’s quite easy to make a good light painting. Also, you can enjoy yourself making it!

You need a camera on which you can set long shutter speeds. Light painting works better if you are in a dark place; the slow shutter speed of your camera will compensate for the lack of light (it allows your camera to get all the information). You also need a tripod for long exposure (unless you want to create an abstract-looking photo, in which case you can move the camera). You also need a light source; the best is an LED torch.

How does it work? When you light paint, you put your camera on the tripod, then you adjust the shutter speed to choose the time of exposure, then you take a light and draw something in the air so that the camera captures the light moving in the air. Then you have a look at your drawing on the photo.

 

 The Place de la Victoire in Clermont-Ferrand, shot with a flash

We took another photo of the same place, this time using the filter that we used for light painting. The second picture is much clearer...

 Goal!

As the exposure time is very long, you can light somebody up at different places and see him several times in the same image.

Jean-Baptiste in front of the cathedral

 We shone the torch on different points of the fountain one after the other.

Jean Baptiste as a ghost! He looks like a hologram.

We drew a bicycle, but it was very difficult!

Chazam!

A portrait of Voltaire, the Enlightenment philosopher (ha-ha)

As you can see, light painting is not so easy, but if you keep practicing you can make amazing pictures. Light painting is an incredible way to create!

Light is an infinite source of inspiration for artists such as Darren Pearson. 

Darren Pearson light painting

He painted most of the Californian wildlife using light. It took him one year to make this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfTPxdrB5uQ

If you are not impressed yet, you will be when you see what people can do with a drone plus fireworks or LEDs!

Drone plus fireworks

Drone plus LEDs

We thank Maxence Dorut for lending us the hardware and all the people involved in this project.