Incidence of Light Mariska de Groot 2019

Intrigued by the phenomena and history of optical sound, Mariska de Groot makes, performs and composes for comprehensive analog light-to-sound instruments and installations which explore this principle in new ways. Her work often has a reference to media inventions from the past, with which she aims to excite a multi-sensorial and phenomenological experience in light, sound, movement and space.

With her use of optical sound as main medium and interest to create immersive environments where light and sound are one, Mariska de Groot now explores the possibilities of the single sculptural object and 360˚ light-to-sound scores.

Inspired by unintentional light projection or reflection and in the tradition of kinetic light sculptures like the Light-Space Modulator by Moholy-Nagy, Incidence of Light is a kinetic light-to-sound sculpture that uses the interior space as an extension of itself.

Using a selection of white LED’s, rotating masks and mirrors, different light frequencies peek through the small openings of a slowly rotating cylindrical graphical score, creating a light composition on the walls and possible objects (and visitors) in the room, while primitive cameras on top of the sculpture scan the patterns and make the rhythmic light / dark parts in the room audible. The sounds heard are overall synthesized and abstract, but can be associated with street sounds and noises.

The translation from light to sound happens one on one. The light is controlled by voltage or audio frequencies, the reflection of the high frequency flickering light turns back to sound. Shadows become rhythmic silences and grey values determine loudness.