Fire
"One of the earliest currently known light artworks can be found in the preserved Chauvet Cave in France dating back to the last Ice Age about 30,000 years BC."
In this series we will take a look at all the types of light sources across human history and show how artists have used each light source to make beautiful light art throughout Amsterdam Light Festival’s twelve editions to date. First up: Fire.
Fire, or the light energy given off during a chemical reaction (typically the burning of some fuel), is thought to have been harnessed by humans around 2 million years ago. Firelight is still a fascination of humans even today. We are mesmerized by the dancing flames and the many vibrant colours given off by different chemical reactions. Fire is central to so many of our community rituals from BBQs to bonfires, and from fireworks to the Olympic Games.
In fact, one of the earliest currently known light artworks can be found in the preserved Chauvet Cave in France dating back to the last Ice Age about 30,000 years BP. It is believed that the flickering of firelight created a visual effect on the paintings, as though the animals depicted were actually moving...
In Edition 3, Wilhelmusvlug made the artwork Camp-Fire for Amsterdam Light Festival to remind us of how important fire is in bringing people together.