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Light/Movement

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[LIGHT/MOVEMENT SPACE] A dark room sensitive to every movement made within it, the light increasing and decreasing according the to scale and speed of the movement. 
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​'I first showed this work in Verona in 1977. I had two shows that opened on the same day in different galleries - one in the morning and one in the afternoon and this work was showing in the second gallery.
There had been a guest I’d noticed in the morning show.  I never spoke to him and when I think about it, he never seemed to speak to anyone else.
He looked smart and he carried some files under his arm. He slowly and carefully scrutinized my works.
Half way through the afternoon show I felt quite tired, and in order to escape for a short break, I slipped into the Light/Movement room.
I entered, and just as it should, the lights responded to my movements.
I crossed the room and sat on a sofa which was against the far wall and, just as it should, the lights lowered to blackness again.
After a short time the lights suddenly came on again, long enough for me to recognize the ‘stranger’ with the files. When he got the idea that if he moved the room lit up, and when he stopped there was blackness, his movements became increasingly exaggerated, until finally he was giving it his all like a principal ballet dancer.
I felt embarrassed for both of us, knowing that he was eventually going to see me;
    and of course he did; and then he stopped and everything became dark again.
    He tried talking to me, but it seemed he couldn’t without seeing me, so now he had to wave his arms in the air 
    to make enough light for communication.
    And in that little happening, I felt that the work succeeded in doing what it was supposed to.'
 
     Alan Smith – July 2016








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