Influence...or anxiety?

I keep coming across wonderful light work I didn't know about. When I first saw Eliasson's work in 2007 I was crushed. I was finally moving from representing light to using light as medium and I wondered how I would continue when this fabulous work was already out there. Just thinking about all the differences possible in the use of paint or pencil ought to have set me straight, but it took a moment to absorb and fine tune.











Diane Landry Flying School, 2005 (on show at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, NC 2005 - 2006)
This photo quality is not good, but you can just see the real effect is up on the ceiling above.





Alexander Gutke, Shattered, 2001 - 2007 (Sies + Hoke Gallery, Dusseldorf)
Simple and beautiful.

In this respect it was enlightening to visit "SLASH : Paper under the knife" in NYC last year. To see all the work being made of paper - a lot of it cut paper - highlighted the multiple approaches possible within the same medium.



There was some beautiful work in the Paper exhibition, but to me the pieces with a strong conceptual approach really shone. I'm including this image as it is similar to one she had in that show.

More Light work

Julieta Aranda "There is a heppy lend - fur, fur awa-a-ay", 2011

This would be great to see in the flesh. Luminous paint is quite magical - and elusive. National Geographic shop had a luminous paint and flash gun set that made shadow "paintings" at home ... so luscious but never lasting long enough. Like fireworks, you can watch the magic over and over again. Good that this installation gives viewers the chance to experience that, presumably (there's a timer included in the materials list). Haven't had time to investigate Aranda's work but do remember seeing this one a couple of years ago and being very intrigued.


























Julieta Aranda, Partially untitled (tell me if I am wrong), 2009 at the Guggenheim, NY

Wonderfully mysterious and dark, a feeling of Magritte's Black Flag in a sort of a way, though not a danger from machines but the unknowable qualities of time, the inexorable end point. And the beautiful if temporary experience meantime.

And, exactly the same, only different... the magical bedtime story. They've been around for a few years now. There is a better image out there b/c I have seen it. Can't find it right now.












Heather Zschock Whoo's there? 2005