About Strings of Light
A series of luminous strings hangs in a dark space, like an instrument waiting to be played.
Each line has its own presence, stretching between invisible points and holding a faint glow. The strings appear delicate, but there is tension within them.
Their shapes suggest the possibility of movement even before anything touches them. Strings of Light is a suspended instrument made from lines, vibration and light, somewhere between a harp, a sculpture and a physical experiment.
What happens when you stay
Cross a string and it begins to vibrate.
Catch it, bend it away from its resting position and release it to set a new movement in motion. Each disturbance produces a response that gradually fades, while other strings may continue to move.
With sound enabled, the instrument becomes something you can hear as well as see. Try moving gently through a few strings, then striking several in succession.
A simple collection of lines becomes a changing composition, with pauses and overlapping vibrations as important as the notes themselves.
Where it comes from
A stretched string vibrates when it is plucked, struck or otherwise disturbed.
Its motion can contain a fundamental frequency and higher harmonics, creating the distinctive tones of musical instruments such as guitars, violins and harps. Standing waves form when reflected vibrations combine along the length of the string, producing points that remain still and others that move more strongly.
Strings of Light draws on these principles of musical acoustics and resonance, translating them into an interactive visual instrument. It also belongs to a tradition of sound art in which the boundaries between sculpture, performance and music become less distinct.
Here, touching light becomes a way of making sound.
Things to try
- Cross a single string slowly.
- Catch one, pull it away and let go.
- Move across several strings in succession.
- Wait until the last vibration has faded before beginning again.
How to explore Strings of Light
You can explore with a mouse, a touch screen or your own hands.
Mouse and keyboard
- Move the pointercross the strings to pluck them.
- Hold the mouse buttongrab a string and drag to tighten it.
- Release the buttonlet it ring.
- Use the wheel or ↑ ↓sustain or damp the strings.
Touch
- Move a finger on the scenecross the strings to pluck them.
- Keep a finger still for a momentgrab a string and drag to tighten it.
- Lift your fingerlet it ring.
- Spread two fingers or bring them togethersustain or damp the strings.
Hands, with the camera
- Point with your index fingercross the strings to pluck them.
- Bring thumb and index together and holdgrab a string and drag to tighten it.
- Separate thumb and indexlet it ring.
- Open your palm or close your fistsustain or damp the strings.
A mouse, touch or keyboard is enough. Choosing “Hands” here only shows instructions; it never turns on the camera.