Light and the Artist

Abstract

Twenty years hence—perhaps much sooner—people will find it hard to believe that, in our atomic generation, many still shook their heads at the thought of an eighth art coming into the world to take its place among the accepted seven; a major fine art at that, in which the artist's sole medium of expression is light. “Nonsense! ” And our children will accord us the same overbearing smile we now bestow on our ancestors who greeted telephone, automobile, radio and airplane with the same devastating word. As far back as we care to look, each generation has firmly believed itself at the pinnacle of human achievement—and been as firmly convinced that the young folks were going to the dogs. The reasoning is simple enough. “Why, if such a thing were possible, someone would have thought of it long ago!” Well, in the case of Lumia, the Art of Light, someone did—twenty-five centuries ago! The recorded history of the art of light began one starry night on the island of Samos when Pythagoras stood contemplating the firmament. The majestic rhythm of heavenly bodies moving in their orbits appeared to him as cosmic