Lights and optics
→ First scale model by Béatrice Lartigue. Cardboard, perforated paper, flashlight.
→ Shot inside the paper model.
The first mock-ups for the artwork Novae allowed us to apprehend the technical stakes related to the materialization of light beams through a perforated surface.
→ Optical principle of the ratio between the size of the light source and the size of the projection once the beam has passed through a small hole.
→ Light fixtures usually comes with a limited opening angle. Schematics by our collaborator light designer Mathieu Cabanes.
→ Optical principle of a simple mirror: the light source located at A seems to be behind the glass, at the virtual location of A'.
→ Thoughts on the use of mirrors assembled in a three-sided pyramid to combine three light sources into one.
Optical constraints: to achieve narrow beams, it is critical to use a small size light source. Hardware constraints: concentrated light sources generally have a limited opening angle which means they must be mounted at a certain distance from the surface to be lit in order to cover a large enough area. Space constraints: the ceiling height of the exhibition space is often limited. Solution idea: by using a mirror, the distance from the light source could be virtually further, and thus illuminate a larger surface.
→ Small scale prototype to test and illustrate the principle of a pyramid of mirrors to combine 3 light sources in one: mini-lasers as light sources, small mirrors and Meccano. The three red dots are close and show the viability of the idea.
→ Geometry reference to understand the shape of the intersection between the beam and the mirror.
→ Full scale tests with different types of projectors and an oval mirror.
→ Convex mirror amplifies the properties of the flat mirror, spreading the light beam even more effectively.
→ Novae at MISK Art Institute, 2022.
Using a convex mirror produces a large, bright wash area despite the small angle of aperture and limited distance from the source.
related