Gradual Exposure (for Slottsbacken), 2018

Uppsala. SE

Description

Gradual Exposure (for Slottsbacken) gradually exposes its environment, altering perspectives of its perceivers. It seeks to explore fundamental experiences related to light such as temporal and spatial orientation. The simple set-up encourages playful encounters, staging a situation in which boundaries between audience, environment and work are blurred, in which everything acts on equal grounds. It may be understood as an ever-changing image.

The work consists of seven light masts forming a circle with a diameter of ten meters. Each mast holds two lamps, one directed inwards and one outwards. The work is placed on a dark plateau in Slottsbacken defined by surrounding trees and a path.

Gradual Exposure (for Slottsbacken) is in continual transformation, slowly pulsating, gradually exposing the inner circle and its outer surroundings. Experiencing the work is significantly different depending on ones position and distance in relation to it, if one is on its inside or outside. The inner experience is characterized by disorientation and blindness, the outer experience by orientation and seeing. Moving from outside to inside the audience experiences a clear shift in perspective and orientation. When blinded by the light one is optically enclosed within a bright circle of grass surrounded by darkness. Spending time within the circle this experience gradually shifts, as ones eyes adapt to the changing light conditions one shifts from seeing to being seen.

Photographer

Hampus Berndtson

Commisioned by

Uppsala Light Festival w. artistic director Patric Kiraly

Materials/Dimensions

7 x 4,6 m tall light masts, 14 x LED light fixtures, cables, DMX controller