LED lighting is opeing up limitless possibilities in light design as never seen before
Lighting for sculptures and art can sometimes present the most difficult problems. Since every art form is different, a number of unique aspects need to be addressed such as material and placement. Sculptures which are frequently placed outdoors need to have a waterproof solution while some might require an intricate color system. The materials used for lighting sculptures can be anything from stone to metal to wood which makes the lighting solution unique for every work of art.
LED technology has created the phenomenon of miniaturization of light sources, opening unprecedented possibilities to integrate light in places and products that are otherwise impossible to illuminate effectively.
The new field of lighting sculpture installations is a very good example of the effects of the LED revolution. By integrating into works of art, the designer, architect, sculptor or painter can add a new artistic layer or most importantly functionality to the creation. A sculpture that emits light can be used as a fixture to illuminate a space and become its centerpiece.
Striking Applications
Lighting sculpture installations usually use LED strips, modules or LEDs indiscreet form, with the optional use of acrylic diffusers or lens. The Bay Bridge in San Francisco is the world’s largest LED light sculpture. A creation of artist Leo Villareal, the dynamic art sculpture is lit with 25,000 programmable white LED lights from Philips Color Kinetics. The spectacle stretches 1.8 min and reaches heights of 500 ft with LED lighting installed on the vertical cables used on the suspension bridge which utilizes Philips Color Kinetics eW Flex SLX product in a 4200K CCT. The product consists of a flexible string of individually controllable white LED nodes that were attached at 1-ft intervals on the suspension cables. The custom software allows for the creation of ever-changing patterns which can include animations moving across the span, multi-dimensional waves of movement, and light-level changes for impact.
The Saint-Vaast Church in Wallers, France displays an astonishing piece of light sculpture by Florian Brillet and David Letellier. The structural design is a contemporary three-dimensional interpretation of techniques used in traditional sacred architecture, where the supporting framework is detailed both functionally and aesthetically. The sculpture is both mineral and metallic, consisting of a polygonal filigrane structure fitted with translucent white alabaster panels. From each vertex of the prism, LED projectors emit a soft palette of colors ranging from pure white to light yellow which are then filtered through the alabaster plates with the depth of the reflective enclosure acting as a diffuser that reveals the veins of the material and different shades of the stone.
Pushing the Limits of LED Light
Artists and lighting designers are constantly pushing the limits of LED applications in art to astonish and inspire. While light shows are common grounds to find amazing LED light installations, light sculptures which serve both the purpose of an artistic centerpiece and a source of illumination can be seen almost anywhere from airports to convention centers.
Wireless LED Light Sculpture
Called the F1 suspension, the wireless LED light sculpture designed for the TEDx conference in Austin mimics the shape of the new CotA Formula 1 track. The sculpture was made up of two 12”x10” long pieces of 1/8” water-jet cut aircraft aluminum that had a long ‘window’ cut into it along its length between which was installed two layers of heavy dichroic film. Fine gauge braided, stainless steel cable was threaded through the assembly, pulled and locked into a ‘wave’ shape, which we felt emulated the profile of the first turn of the new F1 track.
The color display was made possible using a long strip of Osram wirelessly controlled, color changing LED strips, which interacted with the layers of dichroic film, allowing one color to drop through the window viewed from below and another to dynamically wash the ceiling.
Ice Sculptures
LED lights have been successfully used in multiple projects concerning ice sculptures because of their low operating temperatures which is the key to success in an environment that could readily melt with a hotter source. A notable example is the SnowCastle at Kemi, Finland where the ice sculptures inside were brilliantly lit for the first time with LED fixtures from Philips Lighting.
The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival which takes place in Harbin, China each year displays fantastic ice sculptures using LEDs. All the sculptures are made from hollow blocks of ice and lit up using LED lights creating a multicolored glow-in-the-dark skyline on the shores of the nearby Songhua River. The festival features work by some of the country’s best ice sculptors and attracts thousands of visitors from around the world.
3D Illusion Light Sculptures
Contemporary artists are using illusions to create effects that challenge our perception of what is real. Illusions make great eye candy, but they also serve more serious purposes. Designers at Blue Pine Studio have created a mesmerizing 3D lamp which projects its beams as an intricate geometric nest of LEDs that can be set to 16 different colors and 4 different light-changing modes. The unique design gives it the sense of an art installation but can be used as a practical illuminator.
Conclusion
Innovative designers are leveraging the unique traits of LED technology—along with the latest advances in areas such as light quality and diffusion—to create distinctive lighting sculpture designs. The future is truly exciting as art, technology and practicality find a common platform thanks to LEDs.
