Thursday, August 18, 2011

The Fantastic in the Fine Arts: "Transparency in Time"

I suppose if I were to be strict about definitions, this installation, "Transparency in Time," is more "fantastic adjacent" than strictly "fantastic," but it is beautiful, and it makes me think of magic, so I am sharing it with you.


Transparency in Time from Dean McNamee on Vimeo.

"Transparency in Time" is a collaborative installation between designer and engineer Dean McNamee and cellist and composer Peter Gregson. I love the interactive aspect of the piece - that when Gregson plays, McNamee's design allows us to see the music in light and space. It appears as a kind of wizardy, an effect that is increased by the physical appearance of the electric cello upon which Gregson performs. This is the musical of the equivalent of the words to call light from darkness: Fiat lux!