Light art is art that uses one or more light sources to create it partially or entirely. Usually, art creates a specific image. However, in some cases, rather than depicting something, light is used to create an overall artistic effect.
Fireworks displays, which have been used in Asia for thousands of years, are one of the oldest examples of light art. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, artists began to use stained glass in cathedrals on a regular basis. Although the glass is beautiful in and of itself, it is only truly alive when the sun shines through it, projecting the colors onto nearby floors and walls. Shadow puppetry is another good example. These types of light art do not require electricity, which distinguishes them from more modern light art.
To create an effect or image, most modern light art uses some type of light bulb or diode. LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are perhaps the most common light source used by artists. This is due to the fact that LEDs are available in a wide range of colors and are less expensive to replace and operate than other bulbs. Strobe lights, strip lights, and fiber optics are all common types of lighting used by artists.
Laser lighting is a popular form of light art. Lasers are projected at various angles to create shapes and images in this form of light art. Although some artists put on laser light shows with the lighting as the primary focus, it is frequently used as an enhancing theatrical effect at concerts and similar events. Light projection is a type of light art in which an artist uses a projector to magnify a changing, real-time image and project it onto a large surface, such as a building wall. These are ephemeral forms of light art that vanish once the artist has finished working.
Light painting is another type of light-based art. This is a photography technique in which long exposures are used to create and capture light streams on film. After that, the artist can make as many prints as he wants of the resulting image, preserving the work. As a result, it has become a permanent form of light art.
Displays made up of a complex series of circuits and bulbs are common in light-based art. These displays are sometimes made for a specific occasion, such as the grand opening of a store. However, they could be permanent fixtures that are built into the architecture. As art light sculptures, neon store lights are an example of this type of display art.
There are two major technical considerations when it comes to light-based art displays. For starters, the circuits that power the display can fail. When this happens, the entire display must often be dismantled in order to repair the circuits. Repairs can be costly due to the delicate nature of the circuits, which often necessitates the use of specialized electricians. Second, artists must design their work so that if one bulb goes out, the entire display does not stop working, and a bad bulb is easily accessible for replacement.