Drift ∙ Flylight

Flylight is a site-specific art installation that directly interacts with its surroundings. The light mimics the behaviour of a flock of birds in flight, symbolizing the conflict between the safety of the group and the freedom of the individual. While birds are the ultimate symbol of freedom, in a flock, they move as one single entity creating mesmerising patterns. This flock behaviour is an example of ‘self-organization’, meaning that no single bird leads the flight. Amazingly enough, each individual senses the speed and the direction of the group. This natural phenomenon formed a source of inspiration for Flylight, for which the flock behaviour was translated into agent-based software that was especially developed for this work. It consists of delicate glass tubes that light up in an unpredictable way, partially responsive to external stimuli. The pattern, in which the installation lights up, is not pre-programmed but rather has an interactive compound: just like a real flock of birds. Customisation available