Visitors to Dark Matter first noticed its 25-foot-high gyrating vortex of light. This three-dimensional light form was created by a rope whirling at high speed while illuminated with intense, rapidly changing colored light. The movement of the rope created aeolian sound, which added to the work's unearthly atmosphere.

Off to one side of the piece was its light source: a 4,000-watt custom-designed arc lamp built for Pink Floyd. The light source was adapted with the addition of a 36-inch-diameter external fresnel lens to create a narrow beam of light. The spot of light was trained onto a Mylar mirror suspended over ths spinning rope. The reflected light shone onto the rope as it whirled.

On the other side of the piece was its interactive zone: a 12-foot-high tetrahedral framework with lights and "Soundbeams" mounted at its apex. As visitors walked under the structure, Soundbeam range-finders detected their presence and positions, sending out control signals. Visitors could modify the illumination and change the speed of the rope by moving their hands through or walking in and out of the beams. The varying speeds resulted in the patterns of the moving rope changing from a simple harmonic form, reminiscent of stringed musical instruments, to complex chaotic patterns, arching and twisting in the air.

The ispiration for this work came from one of the great unsolved mysteries of astronomy. "Dark Matter" is a technical term used to describe the invisible contents of the Universe. Theoretical considerations led astronomers to the conclusion that Dark Matter is a new sustance, unlike any other matter known.

Paul Friedlander,
43 Narcissus Road,
London NW6 1TL,
United Kingdom.
E-mail: Praskovi@clara.net
Web: www.praskovi.clara.net.