Dive of Darkness ( Work In progress )
How can we preserve the magic of darkness in an artificially illuminated world ?
Since the invention of electric light bulb by Thomas Edison in 1879 our relationship with darkness had completely changed. In fact, we tend to reproduce daylight 24 hours/7 days a week from television programs to tablets. We also fear darkness and try to banish it, it is genetically coded within us and is something we learnt to fear. It is commonly known that darkness is perceived as having a bad impact on your mood especially during winter.
However, darkness is needed for the environment. From species like bats to the view of the night sky. We are in a very bright era where we loose increasingly that intimate relationship with darkness that a decade ago we could still explore as children.
Darkness holds plenty of properties such as quietness, privacy and mystery that we need to preserve. For instance, the “Dining In the Dark” movement provides people an unusual experience that heighten their appreciation of taste, smell and hearing.
Through my material experimentation I hope to explore the relationship between darkness and artificial light. As we cannot see the beauty of a night sky in a city like London because of light pollution, I am trying to imagine how can we once again fully appreciate the properties of darkness.