| Lumia as a Personal Experiential Art Form
My art was inspired by seeing the work of the 20th Century Lumia artist, Thomas Wilfred in 1968. Mr. Wilfred's compositions were performed in concerts and exhibited later as self contained light sculptures. The performances and sculptures were, for the most part, silent. Mr. Wilfred struggled throughout his life to gain acceptance for Lumia as the eighth fine art, independent and an equal of painting, drawing, sculpture, music, dance, writing and song. A romantic notion at best. The 20th Century brought rapid technological transformation, and artists embraced technology, as they have since the cave painting, resulting in innovative works that spanned multiple "independent fine art" disciplines.
As the number of 'fine arts" continued to expand with the evolution of technology, the traditions and principals of Lumia were absorbed into a universe of "Light Art" movements and genres that include film, television, multi-media, computer art, special effects and visual music.
My Digital Lumia compositions are synaesthetic. The viewer is the central interpreter of the experience. What the eye sees in the composition, triggers the mind to create the complementary or contrasting sound, flavor, texture or feeling. When music or ambient sound constructions are added, the desired result combines the two media into an experiential result that hopefully transcends and becomes greater than the sum of the parts. The resulting visual, aural, intellectual or emotional experience should only exist in the viewer.
As an artist, my goal is to create an independent form, that exists only in the viewer, as they are the ultimate determinator of what art is, regardless of the media by which it is created. For me light is an ideal medium of expression as it communicates visual qualities that are evocative, other worldly, open. Light moves in naturally ambiguous ways, opening perceptual possibilities. Color offers the raw, visceral component. Time/motion in the digital realm are unlimited in their variety of transformational possibilities. When combined by the artist, these form the structure of contemporary Lumia composition, as a personal experiential art form.
Digital Lumia compositions are created using optical simulation algorithms and software to construct virtual optical machines. The elements within each machine are adjusted over time so that a visual sequence of changes in color, refraction, reflection and shadow is composed. The resulting sequence is tested with key frames, then rendered in one of several resolution and file formats available for output.
Digital Lumia Compositions available as high resolution DVD's (movies), or high resolution, archival LightJet prints (still images).
For more information about the Art of Digital Lumia - contact: stadnik@erols.com
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