LOTUS of LIGHT
"In the fortified city of the imperishable,
our body, there is a lotus
and in this lotus is a tiny space
what does it contain that one
should desire to know it?
As vast as this space above
is the tiny space within your heart
heaven and earth are found in it
fire and air and sun and moon
lightening and the constellations
all this is gathered in that tiny space
within your heart."
Chandogya Upanishad 8.1. 2 - 3
our body, there is a lotus
and in this lotus is a tiny space
what does it contain that one
should desire to know it?
As vast as this space above
is the tiny space within your heart
heaven and earth are found in it
fire and air and sun and moon
lightening and the constellations
all this is gathered in that tiny space
within your heart."
Chandogya Upanishad 8.1. 2 - 3
Lotus of Light is an experiential immersive light and sound installation
Moving through light and sound, moving upwards, inwards, within and without.
Each petal is a journey into a part of your being.
The prism splits into 7 colours, 7 notes interspersed with silence, 7 points of light and sound. 7 chakras of the body. 7 petals of the Golden Lotus.
Immerse. Explore. Expand.
Light and Sound are the building blocks of the Universe, what we perceive as sensory reality is just a slice of existence. Like any sensor, we require tuning, calibrating; and in so doing we expand the range of our operational potential.
"But I never looked like that! - How do you know? What is the ‘you’ you might or might not look like? Where do you find it - by which morphological or expressive calibration? Where is your authentic body? You are the only one who can never see yourself except as an image; you never see your eyes unless they are dulled by the gaze they rest upon the mirror or the lens: even and especially for your own body, you are condemned to the repertoire of its images."
~Roland Barthes
~Roland Barthes
Made from a steel frame and wrapped in fabric the large room sized lotus, sits glowing. Its outer petals are open to the ground enticing you to walk inside. Walking deeper in, the petals start to close around you, the coloured light from each petal shifts and you start to hear a low hum. You forget about the outside world as you leave normality behind, something is happening; although you are not sure what.
As you spiral through a tunnel of petals there is an opening, into the heart of the lotus, a large chamber. The space is filled with coloured light and sound. You cannot tell where the end of space begins, you become aware of being within yourself, the closest edge you can make out is that of your own eye.
|
Within the central Lotus space seven petal chair forms are found, relaxing in a reclined position, each occupant becomes absorbed by the coloured light filling the space. The atmosphere is thick with vibration and sound- harmonious to the colour within the space, the Sound is emanating from within the fabric of the chair. Sitting in the chair, you find a hand held control pad with seven keys. As you press a key the sound and vibration shifts, there is a subtle change in the tone of light within the space. Looking around you notice your neighbour also playing with the sound, as the entire group explore the vibrational soundscape of the petals the colour filling the space transitions to the tone of the ensemble. |
|
Red, Violet, Deep Blues and Green. You feel your heart, your stomach, your mind empties, a place above your head...
Visions, feelings, emotions, distant half forgotten memories |
|
"Physically, psychologically, emotionally and energy-wise; you must break your limitations. That is when your perception expands." Sadhguru
Finding your feet and leaving through the second opening, out of a tunnel of light, returning to the world. A world that feels more expansive, open, clearer
breathe
An ephemeral play of light and sound
Light, sound and breath; bridges that cross the thresholds of perception.
Connecting contemporary science to traditional culture, the Lotus of Light is also a multi - use space for talks/ workshops/ performances on various subjects ranging from science, art to spirituality; co-ordinating with and facilitating wider activities of the festival of light.
Links // Inspiration // Precedents // Research
James Turrell
The Wolfsburg Project, Bridget Bardo
Usman Haques interactive public light and sound installation work
http://www.haque.co.uk/evoke.php
http://www.haque.co.uk/primalsource.php
Light and Sound Installation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgplcfpMF78
Previous Project: The Reflective Room. 2010 Installation. A mediative room for reflecting the environment
Marbles by studio Roosegaarde http://inspir3d.net/2012/09/13/interactive-marbles-by-studio-roosegaarde/
Suzann Victor Brings Rainbow indoors
http://olafureliasson.net/archive/artwork/WEK100285/your-atmospheric-colour-atlas
http://www.littlesun.com/
Research Links; Sound, Light & Chakras
http://journals.sfu.ca/seemj/index.php/seemj/article/viewFile/47/37
http://www.ph.ed.ac.uk/sound/sound-and-vision
http://www.healingsounds.com/sound-and-the-chakras
http://www.einsteininitiative.com/chakras.html
http://www.energymedc.com/Color%20Therapy.htm
http://www.wingmakers.co.nz/Chakra_Tones_and_Notes.html
A collaboration between Sumedha Garg and Spencer Fretwell, for further information please contact us on
Sumedha Garg
India, Delhi, Telephone. 9717937004
sumedha.is@gmail.com
508 Ivory Tower
South City 1
Gurgaon
122007
Spencer Fretwell
UK, Liverpool, Telephone 0044 781 464 7854
spencer@theartofexperiment.org
Many Thanks.