Ben Phipps has always been fascinated and captivated with light.
“My mom even says that light was one of my first words. My interest in science came from an appreciation of light. I studied electrical engineering and physics with a focus in optics and my professional career has remained lighting, optics and filter design.”
This fascination—one he describes equally as geeky and artistic—has led Phipps to a collaboration between himself and Chicago-based architect Graham Grilli. While his previous public works were restricted to flat panels, this piece, entitled Lightspiel, is spatially organized. Consisting of tubular shapes exuding various light forms, the user can interact with the light via diffuser sheets, which reveal light in various ways imperceptible to the eye.
“For example,” explained Phipps, “the lamp may shine brightly from a specific location and the viewer sees this as a standard lamp. Yet when the viewer sees the same lamp behind my diffuser sheet, they see that the light is actually projecting light in a very specific pattern. The light on the diffuser sheet is no just a uniform blob of light but an actual pattern with shape, similar to shadows with defined shapes, but in this case containing color.”
The piece, being housed at The Collaborative in Downtown, will have its official premiere to the public this Saturday. Phipps’s ultimate goal with the piece is to simply have viewers understand the beauty and importance of light, both physically and emotionally. And his attempt to narrow the gap that divides between science and art can easily be witnessed.
“I enjoy the way light reflects off water or changes your mood,” Phipps said. “It acts as both a wave and a particle… There’s also a mystical element that I find fascinating: our sun, stars, moon all appear as lights in the sky and provideswarmth, food, energy, vitamin d. I hope to convey these types of feelings.”
Lightspiel will be displayed at The Collaborative located at 421 West Broadway. The opening reception for the piece will occur this Saturday, from 7PM to 10PM.