Title
Scintillate
Project Description
“Scintillate” is a light sculpture that explores the transformative power of love and the beauty found within brokenness. The concept is inspired by two distinct sources: the Japanese art of “Kintsugi(金継ぎ)”, which involves repairing broken pottery with gold to celebrate its imperfections, and the captivating light sculptures created by Tintin Cooper, which gracefully merges light, space, and sculpture. By merging these influences, the intention behind this project is to create a sculpture piece that symbolises brokenness and beauty. The project aims to remind the audience that there is inherent beauty in every aspect of life, including our flaws and imperfections. Unlike our tendency to conceal our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, this sculpture embraces and illuminates the broken parts to showcase their beautiful qualities.
The sculpture’s design features an intentionally bent upper part, forming an upside-down heart shape. This serves as another reminder to continue spreading love and positivity, even in moments when optimism and love may feel distant. Love, as the most powerful force in the world, has the potential to both break and heal, and this artwork seeks to capture the essence of this duality. By combining aesthetics, symbolism, and the interplay of light and space, the sculpture aspires to inspire contemplation about the nature of love and its effects.
Perspective and Context
As discussed in Jack Burnham’s essay “Light as Sculpture Medium” from “Beyond Modern Sculpture” (1969), light in art is often transmitted and transformed through materials rather than projected directly at the viewer. In line with this concept, my project uses neon tube lights to create a luminous effect that “hugs” the audience in a pink glow, revealing the emotional stimulant of luminosity described by Burnham. The glowing pink neon tube serves an aesthetic purpose as well as bringing a sense of warmth, comfort, and emotional connection. It engages the viewer on a certain level, inviting contemplation about the transformative power of love.
Development & Technical Implementation
The development of my project involved a combination of research, experimentation, and technical implementation. To begin, I researched the Japanese art of Kintsugi, studying its techniques of repairing broken pottery with gold and the symbolism behind it. This inspired the concept of using EL wires to represent the golden repairs in my sculptural mannequin. Additionally, I spray-painted the sculpture with a gold finish to further emphasise the element of Kintsugi.
To ensure the proper functioning of the EL wires and neon tube, I constructed individual circuits for each component and tested them separately. Once each circuit was working correctly, I combined them into a single board and wrote the necessary code to control the motion and lighting effects. This step allowed me to achieve the blinking and fading motion.
In terms of the physical construction, I began by sketching the design for the broken heart part of the sculpture. Using a Dremel tool, I carefully cut out the broken pieces, creating the desired shape. I then engraved lines along the fractures to guide the placement of the EL wires. The wires were glued in a pattern resembling veins, further highlighting the visual representation of the repaired fractures.
For the top part of the sculpture, I initially experimented with different angles and positions for the neon tube. I then discovered that the tube in a hanging position created a heart shape when illuminated. Given that the neon tube emitted a pink light, which symbolises love and the heart, this shape of the heartfelt particularly fitting to my concept.
Once all the individual components were completed, I felt that something was missing and to add a final touch, I created drips using hot glue guns. Each drip was carefully crafted and allowed to dry before being attached to the sculpture. Then by placing these drips, I achieved a sense of balance and visual interest, while also creating a connection between the drips and the neon tube.
To fully experience the project, the audience should stand in front of the sculpture and allow themselves to be wrapped by the soft pink glow emitted by the neon tube. They can appreciate the interplay between the illuminated broken parts, the symbolism of Kintsugi, and the transformative power of love. The combination of light, shape, and symbolism invites contemplation and reflection on the beauty found within brokenness and the potential for love to both break and heal.
Presentation
During the presentation, I tried not to over-explain, allowing the audience to form their own interpretations. Those familiar with the concept of kintsugi appreciated the symbolism, while others found their own unique meanings. While the overall reception was positive, the presentation could have benefited from a quieter space. One interesting aspect was the wide range of interpretations and emotional responses from the audience like the shape and colour of the neon tube, the motion of the EL wires blinking was likened to a beating heart, and the drips were interpreted as tears from the eyes.
Conclusion
The process of researching, creating, and executing this project was both challenging and rewarding. I learned that translating an idea from imagination to reality requires attention to detail and a willingness to iterate and make adjustments along the way. I needed to start early and dedicate a lot of time to the project, allowing me to refine the design and work on the fabrication and electrical aspects later.
One of the most important lessons I discovered was the need to balance self-satisfaction with external expectations. While it was essential for me to create a piece that fulfilled my artistic vision, I also recognised the importance of giving yourself a compliment for what you did. In terms of areas for improvement, I would explore ways to hide the wires more effectively, perhaps by making them longer and concealing them in unnoticeable areas of the sculpture. Additionally, I believe there is room for further experimentation and refinement in coding the motion and lighting effects of the project. Overall, this project was a valuable learning experience that challenged me both technically and artistically. It taught me the importance of patience, attention to detail, and self-appreciation.