Volatile Light – Barnsley Civic

Volatile Light was a mesmerising sound and light installation for all ages featuring an array of specially made machines.

there is a light display in the middle of a dark room. The lights glow mostly purple, with a bright yellow light that looks like a flower. The image shows the movement of the lights and looks blurred in places.

LED lights were attached to rotating arms, levers and cranks to weave a series of eccentric curves, sweeping arcs and hectic scribbles in a darkened space, creating a captivating universe of lights and sounds.

Volatile Light was perfect for all ages to enjoy the interactive computer software which created the mesmerising light and sound installation.

Utilising innovative computer software, the lights were transformed into a complex mixture of overlapping light trails and patterns, creating a captivating visual display.

The Experience

Audiences experienced an intimate, all enveloping combination of light and sound by placing themselves at the centre of a miniature, wrap-around universe of moving lights and sounds. Artists Liz Dees, Dan Morrison, Jim Bond, and Andy Plant’s collaboration combined light painting and mechanical kinetic sculptures to create an immersive light experience.

The installation was installed at Barnsley Civic and toured other locations in subsequent years.

“Volatile Light is reminiscent of afterburn on early video cameras or a sparkler dancing on a dark winter’s night. You just don’t want it to fade away or go out.”

- 2012 Dig Yorkshire
There is a large orange sphere with a dark background, the sphere is made of light rays.
The image is mostly black, with a small line of orange and purple light

Other Events:

  • The Civic, Barnsley, 27/02/2013 – 02/03/2013
  • Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston, 20/07/2013 – 24/08/2013
  • Z-Arts, Manchester, 08/02/2014 – 01/03/2014
  • 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe, 24/05/2014 – 07/06/2014
  • Gravity Fields Festival, Grantham, 24/09/2014 – 28/09/2014