Encircled Enlightenment
Skunk Control
Melbourne, Australia
Pro Tip
A sagacious parliament of owls watch over Encircled Enlightenment from a distance. Ancient and eternal, they keep the whispering shadows in check. Did you spot all three watchers?
Inside the Installation
Materials: optical filters, organic material, steel, recycled PET, electronics and LEDs
In nature color is often created via light’s interaction with structures, leading to what is often termed “structural color.” One classic example of such an interaction is between light and water in the atmosphere which often results in the formation of rainbows. The glorious hues of blue that appear on certain butterflies are a consequence of light’s interaction with micro-structures within the butterfly wing that only reflect the blue portion of the natural light.
Nanotechnology allows us to create unique optical filters that mimic some of nature’s micro-structures and thus provide rich and vivid colors found in nature but difficult to reproduce using pigments.
This work makes use of such optical filters and combines these with LEDs to create an everchanging landscape. With over 2,000 crown fronds, 250 hand crafted petals, and a bulbous fruiting body, Encircled Enlightenment utilizes optical filters that mimic nature to create a unique palette of colors.
Artist Bio
Skunk Control
Skunk Control create engaging and immersive experiences that provide the public with a sense of wonderment and opportunities to make delightful discoveries. Drawing on technology, art, their fondness for all things left of field, and a mantra to create works that encourage a belief in as many as six impossible things before breakfast, their creations are informed by large dollops of color, light, and a splash of whimsy that harkens back to their formative years of learning.
