Solid Light Works was featured in The Hepworth Wakefield and was the first major UK exhibition for Anthony McCall in over 10 years. The installation ultimately consists of three ‘solid light’ displays and a large pitch-black space.
FIG 1
Before entering the exhibition, you are met with a small collection of drawings and diagrams in which McCall used almost like maps to allow himself to conceptualise the forms he wanted to create and how they would move and warp. This immediately draws your attention and allows your mind to wander about what is yet to come. McCall intentionally leaves out key details in his diagrams in order to create tension.
The moment you step through the door your senses are hit due to the lack of light, the only thing you can see are thin doodles of light traveling along the walls in random patterns. A closer look will reveal smoke machines which pump out a thin mist to reveal the coves of light projected across the space. The ‘solid lights’ give you a sense of vulnerability due to the sheer size of them. This can be felt even greater when you walk inside the projected light. Straight away your met with a blinding light before your encased directly inside the cone itself. The smoke and projected light together forms what can only be described as a corridor or tunnel and from that moment you are part of the exhibition.
FIG 2
McCall’s exhibition doesn’t scream interactive. He isn’t pushing you to act or experience his work in any particular way, your free to act how you want. The exhibition is silent, groups of people begin to whisper to each other as if they’d be judged to speak any louder. You feel as though you should move with care every move you take needs to be considered first. I believe this is through the monochrome pallet McCall chose. The white light cuts through the thick black space and depending on which end of the room you look at, is much harsher than the other. The simplistic nature of this exhibition is exactly what makes it genius. This has shown me that designs don’t have to be complex and include intricate details in order for it to be successful. I will take this idea and utilise it in my own work.
I feel this exhibition has also taught me that creating something that people can interact with will allow them to feel not only a connection with the design but also feel a part of the journey. It allows people to be themselves and act however they want. Its giving people the chance to make memories and capture moments. After experiencing this exhibition for myself, I can still remember it vividly today despite years having past and this is what I want to create in my designs. For me, a good design is something that provokes emotion in its visitors and has character. This is exactly what I am taking away from McCall’s Solid Light Works exhibition.
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FIG 1 & 2 - https://hepworthwakefield.org/whats-on/anthony-mccall-solid-light-works/