Kinetic Textiles: Jason Burges

wind to light

'wind to light' is a project commissioned by
onedotzero and light lab for architecture week
2007 in the uk, executed by jason bruges
studio. the events for this years architectural
celebration, organised by the arts council
england, riba and the architecture centre
network, were focused upon issues of
ecology and sustainability posing the reflective
question 'how green is our space?'. its aim
was to inspire people to think creatively about
the spaces that surround them and which they
inhabit.

jason bruges studio produces a wide range of
diverse work including interactive light
sculptures, interactive environments, events
and screen based installations. their objective
is to explore the applications of interactivity
and the relationship between individuals and
their environment through the creative use of
highly imaginative and innovative technologies.

'wind to light' is a custom built, site-specific
installation consisting of 500 miniature wind
turbines directly generating the power to
illuminate hundreds of integrally mounted LEDs
(light-emitting diodes). the effect is to create
'firefly-like fields of light' where the wind can
be visualized as an ephemeral electronic cloud
in the atmosphere. the turbine and LED modules
are attached to their base by flexible poles
which allow them to slightly sway in the wind,
animating the movement of the wind by a digital,
electronic means.

the self-powered, autonomous installation
illustrates the simplicity and directness of wind
power and its potential, literally and symbolically
closing the gap between power generation and
consumption. wind to light presents wind power
in a visually tangible way and one that is
characterised primarily by its resultant output
rather than process. it eloquently illustrates the
silent power of wind.

wind to light presents the perspective that wind
power can be an attractive or even potentially
beautiful addition to the landscape, contrary to
many widespread opinions that wind turbines
are a man-made, visual and physical intrusion
upon scenery and its natural beauty.

the relocation of wind power from the rural
environment to urban surroundings literally
brings it closer to us and suggests
that as our requirements from wind power
have evolved since the use of windmills so
should our attitudes towards its application
and location. perhaps wind turbines are more
suited within the man made environment than
nature where they are alien and their need is
divorced from them.

due to the popularity of the installation its stay
on southbank has been extended through the
summer till september 1.

http://www.jasonbruges.com
http://onedotzero.com/windtolight