Lumino Kinetic Art
Encyclopedia
Lumino Kinetic art involves, as the name suggests, light and movement. It is a subset and an art historical term in the context of the more established kinetic art
, which in turn is a subset of new media art
. The historian of art Frank Popper
views the evolution of this type of art as evidence of "aesthetic preoccupations linked with technological advancement" and a starting-point in the context of high-technology art. László Moholy-Nagy
(1895-1946), a member of the Bauhaus
, and influenced by constructivism
can be regarded as one of the fathers of Lumino kinetic art. Light sculpture and moving sculpture are the components of his Light-Space Modulator (1922–30), One of the first Light art
pieces which also combines kinetic art
.
The origins of the term itself are multiple. There was an early cybernetics artist, Nicolas Schöffer
, who developed walls of light, prisms, and video circuits under the term in the 50s. Artist/engineer Frank Malina
came up with the Lumidyne system of lighting (CITE), and his work Tableaux mobiles (moving paintings) is an example of Lumino Kinetic art of that period. Later, artist Nino Calos worked with the term "Limino-kinetic paintings. (CITE). Artist György Kepes
was also experimenting with lumino-kinetic works. Ellis D Fogg
is also associated with the term as a "lumino kinetic sculptor".
In the 1960s various exhibits involved Lumino Kinetic art, inter alia Kunst-Licht-Kunst at the Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven in 1966, and Lumière et mouvement at the Musée d'Art Moderne
de la Ville de Paris in 1967.
Lumino Kinetic art was also aligned with Op art
in the late 60s because the moving lights were spectacular and psychedelic.
Frank Popper
views it as an art historical term in the context of kinetic art; he states that "there is no lumino kinetic art after the early 70s; it stands as a pre-cursor to other contemporary cybernetic, robotic, new media-based arts, and is limited to a very small number of (male) European avant-garde artists (part of the New Tendencies movement)".
Quote: "The interruption of "white light" created by overlapping red, green, and blue light serves as one basis for making lumino- kinetic art objects"
p 291 Quote: "Moderne de la Ville de Paris on 23 May 1967, offered the public access to a large range of lumino-kinetic works by artists such as Agam, Calos, Cruz-Diez
Kinetic art
Kinetic art is art that contains moving parts or depends on motion for its effect. The moving parts are generally powered by wind, a motor or the observer. Kinetic art encompasses a wide variety of overlapping techniques and styles.-Kinetic sculpture:...
, which in turn is a subset of new media art
New media art
New media art is a genre that encompasses artworks created with new media technologies, including digital art, computer graphics, computer animation, virtual art, Internet art, interactive art, computer robotics, and art as biotechnology...
. The historian of art Frank Popper
Frank Popper
Frank Popper is a historian of art and technology and Professor Emeritus of Aesthetics and the Science of Art at the University of Paris VIII. He has been decorated with the medal of the Légion d'honneur by the French Government...
views the evolution of this type of art as evidence of "aesthetic preoccupations linked with technological advancement" and a starting-point in the context of high-technology art. László Moholy-Nagy
László Moholy-Nagy
László Moholy-Nagy was a Hungarian painter and photographer as well as professor in the Bauhaus school. He was highly influenced by constructivism and a strong advocate of the integration of technology and industry into the arts.-Early life:...
(1895-1946), a member of the Bauhaus
Bauhaus
', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...
, and influenced by constructivism
Constructivism (art)
Constructivism was an artistic and architectural philosophy that originated in Russia beginning in 1919, which was a rejection of the idea of autonomous art. The movement was in favour of art as a practice for social purposes. Constructivism had a great effect on modern art movements of the 20th...
can be regarded as one of the fathers of Lumino kinetic art. Light sculpture and moving sculpture are the components of his Light-Space Modulator (1922–30), One of the first Light art
Light art
Light art is a form of visual art where main media of expression is light. Light has been used for architectural aesthetical effects throughout human history. However, the modern concept of light art emerged with the development of artificial light sources and experimenting modern art...
pieces which also combines kinetic art
Kinetic art
Kinetic art is art that contains moving parts or depends on motion for its effect. The moving parts are generally powered by wind, a motor or the observer. Kinetic art encompasses a wide variety of overlapping techniques and styles.-Kinetic sculpture:...
.
The origins of the term itself are multiple. There was an early cybernetics artist, Nicolas Schöffer
Nicolas Schoffer
Nicolas Schöffer was a Hungarian-born French artist. He can be considered as the father of cybernetic art. He was born in Kalocsa, Hungary and resided in Paris from 1936 till his death in his Montmartre atelier in 1992. His career touched on painting, kinetic sculpture, architecture, urbanism,...
, who developed walls of light, prisms, and video circuits under the term in the 50s. Artist/engineer Frank Malina
Frank Malina
Frank Joseph Malina was an American aeronautical engineer and painter, especially known for becoming both a pioneer in the art world and the realm of scientific engineering.-Early life:...
came up with the Lumidyne system of lighting (CITE), and his work Tableaux mobiles (moving paintings) is an example of Lumino Kinetic art of that period. Later, artist Nino Calos worked with the term "Limino-kinetic paintings. (CITE). Artist György Kepes
György Kepes
György Kepes was a Hungarian-born painter, designer, educator and art theorist. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1937, he taught design at the New Bauhaus in Chicago...
was also experimenting with lumino-kinetic works. Ellis D Fogg
Ellis D Fogg
Ellis D Fogg is the pseudonym of Roger Foley who the National Film and Sound Archive have described as Australia's "most innovative lighting designer and lumino kinetic sculptor." The term Lumino Kinetic Art was first used in 1966 by Frank Popper, Professor of Aesthetics at the University of...
is also associated with the term as a "lumino kinetic sculptor".
In the 1960s various exhibits involved Lumino Kinetic art, inter alia Kunst-Licht-Kunst at the Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven in 1966, and Lumière et mouvement at the Musée d'Art Moderne
Musée National d'Art Moderne
The Musée National d'Art Moderne is the national museum for modern art of France. It is located in Paris and is housed in the Centre Pompidou in the 4th arrondissement of the city. Created in 1947, it was then housed in the Palais de Tokyo and moved to its current location in 1977...
de la Ville de Paris in 1967.
Lumino Kinetic art was also aligned with Op art
Op art
Op art, also known as optical art, is a style of visual art that makes use of optical illusions."Optical art is a method of painting concerning the interaction between illusion and picture plane, between understanding and seeing." Op art works are abstract, with many of the better known pieces made...
in the late 60s because the moving lights were spectacular and psychedelic.
Frank Popper
Frank Popper
Frank Popper is a historian of art and technology and Professor Emeritus of Aesthetics and the Science of Art at the University of Paris VIII. He has been decorated with the medal of the Légion d'honneur by the French Government...
views it as an art historical term in the context of kinetic art; he states that "there is no lumino kinetic art after the early 70s; it stands as a pre-cursor to other contemporary cybernetic, robotic, new media-based arts, and is limited to a very small number of (male) European avant-garde artists (part of the New Tendencies movement)".
External links
Further readings
Quote: "Apart from machines of this type, various other methods of projection have been practised in the field of lumino-kinetic art." Artist mentioned on p199: Leonard, Don Snyder, Stern, Tambellini.Quote: "The interruption of "white light" created by overlapping red, green, and blue light serves as one basis for making lumino- kinetic art objects"
p 291 Quote: "Moderne de la Ville de Paris on 23 May 1967, offered the public access to a large range of lumino-kinetic works by artists such as Agam, Calos, Cruz-Diez
- Frank Popper: "The Place of High-Technology Art in the Contemporary Art Scene." by Frank Popper. Leonardo, Vol. 26, No. 1 (1993), pp. 65-69. Published by: The MIT Press