I’ve been a fan of Geoff’s work and am always interested in whatever new experiments he is doing. It seems that he has chosen two similar forms to work with: a simple screen where triangular cuts are made that change in aperture as the screen is bent, expanding and contracting to filter different amounts of light; and a square module that is connected at the edges to create a scalloped form that reflects light and can also be bent. Both have much potential in defining space and filtering light. Adding a kinetic quality to the pieces also would connect the user to the space on a different level.
I do agree with him, in that the space where he will be installing his final project, manipulation of the light available there would be difficult. A much more concentrated piece, a giant luminaire that would respond and interact with users would be much more manageable. I’m not quite sure how easy or difficult it is to build a mechanism or frame for the object, but it would be interesting to see the luminary not only move in one direction, but along several axis. Maybe expand and contract in response to the actions of the observer. In one of his posts he mentioned PROJECTiONE (lightforms) where they have developed a module that interlocks with each other to create a luminaire. The orbs are beautiful, and it’s a little disappointing they don’t squish and expand. Of course, Geoff is already experimenting with the kinetic aspect with his latest experiment. It would be interesting to see what materials he uses and if he will reintroduce bounced color back into his pieces. A reading to revisit might be Jan Butterfield’s The Art of Light and Space – the section on color and the scalloped example.