Leading Light  

XP UNIT, Paris, 2024


Leading Light is a convergence of light, sound, and kinetic movement, a harmonious performance that immerses its audience in a sensory experience of evolving spectacle. At its core, this work explores the delicate interplay of resonant objects in space, as light and sound merge in a choreography of motion and reflection.

Inspired by the historic innovation of the fresnel lens, originally conceived to guide ships safely through treacherous waters, the installation pays homage to its transformative power. The fresnel lens, with its remarkable ability to focus a single point of light into a powerful beam, becomes the heart of this installation. As light refracts through the lens, not only does it concentrate into a brilliant focused ray, but the glass itself becomes an active participant in the experience, functioning as a resonator that radiates sound from its core.

In a mesmerising dance, the glass lenses revolve, capturing and transforming projected beams of light and colour. As they turn, they reflect, refract, and focus the light, constantly reshaping its path and altering the dynamics of the space. This array of kinetic sculptures moves in unison, creating a symphony of light and sound, a continuous, ever-shifting performance that invites the viewer into a world of heightened perception.

Each lens, acting as a glass resonator, emits its own unique vibrations, sending waves of sound as it moves. The result is a soundscape in constant flux, with the tones resonating and evolving as the lenses rotate, adding a sonic dimension to the interplay of light.

The installation transforms its surroundings into an immersive environment where time seems to slow, allowing for deep contemplation of the ways in which light, sound, and motion intersect. Through its dynamic composition, the artwork invites the audience to experience the sublime, where the precision of scientific innovation and the poetic beauty of art meet in a delicate, resonant balance.

Specification

Dimensions: 1.4m⌀ x 1.8m per sculpture 
Media: stainless steel, light, acrylic

Credits

Technical Design: XP UNIT, Paris 
Photography: Sebastian Kite