Circa is a twelve-part light sculpture made up of rings that present circannual light levels on earth's surface.  Light is the primary zeitgeber or...

Circa

Location:

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
2000 NSW
Australia

Image. 12 large rings mounted on poles form an open 33-metre tunnel across a pond. In coordinated sequences, segments of each ring illuminate, then lengthen or shrink. The rhythmic displays of curved light along the length of the tunnel are reflected in the water below.Circa - Vivid Light 2019
Image. 12 large rings mounted on poles form an open 33-metre tunnel across a pond. In coordinated sequences, segments of each ring illuminate, then lengthen or shrink. The rhythmic displays of curved light along the length of the tunnel are reflected in the water below.Circa - Vivid Light 2019

Access and Inclusion

  • Audio Described - Audio description is a service provided for patrons who are blind or have low vision. Trained audio describers give live, objective, verbal descriptions.
  • Wheelchair Accessible - Access to the venue is suitable for wheelchairs (toilets, ramps/lifts etc.) and designated wheelchair spaces are available.

Event Details

Artists:
Limbic Cinema (United Kingdom) / Joe Acheson (United Kingdom)

Circa is a twelve-part light sculpture made up of rings that present circannual light levels on earth's surface. 

Light is the primary zeitgeber or time giver and is therefore the most responsible factor for setting endogenous clocks in plant and animal life. The arrangement of circles also makes the imperceptible oscillations and feedback loops that occur on a cellular level visible to the human eye. These mechanisms are the basis for the circadian clock that governs some of the behaviour of plants, animals, and humans.

Each ring represents one month of the year. The total circumference of each circle represents an average of light levels across that month over the course of one day. If the total circumference of the circle represents 24 hours and the average number of daylight hours in January is eight hours, a third of the circle will light up.

This conceptually driven arrangement borrows patterns, rhythms and data from nature. It uses the circadian cycle as a reference for setting the bpm in the music, the loop lengths for the movement of light, and the light intensity. The resulting 33-metre long installation resembles a three-dimensional clock, where time and light can be seen corkscrewing into the distance.

Created by Limbic Cinema, the installation was originally developed with the support of Shrinking Space as part of The Wonder Project and exhibited at Wakehurst Gardens in the UK. The concept was developed with the help of scientist Anne Vischer at Kew Gardens.

 

Country represented by installation: United Kingdom

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Audio Description

Access and Inclusion

  • Audio Described - Audio description is a service provided for patrons who are blind or have low vision. Trained audio describers give live, objective, verbal descriptions.
  • Wheelchair Accessible - Access to the venue is suitable for wheelchairs (toilets, ramps/lifts etc.) and designated wheelchair spaces are available.

Sponsors

Limbic Cinema
Joe Acheson