If you’re headed to San Francisco sometime in the near future, make sure to drop by the SFMOMA to see a magical installation. Artist Jim Campbell just recently debuted “Exploded Views,” a random cascade of flickering LED lights…or so you think. Make it up to the 2nd floor landing and watch the lights transform into a 3D screen where human figures magically come to life!
Part sculpture, part cinematic screen, the grid is composed of thousands of computer-controlled LED spheres that create the illusion of fleeting shadow-like figures.
This is the second time we’ve written about Campbell’s light installations. The engineer-turned-artist was also the one behind that mesmerizing Scattered Lights installation at Madison Square Park.
Above: Jim Campbell, Exploded Views (Improv), 2011 (installation view); 2880 LED lights, custom electronics; Choreography: Alonzo King LINES Ballet; Commissioned by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, courtesy the artist and Hosfelt Gallery, San Francisco – New York; Jim Campbell, photo: Sarah Christianson
Jim Campbell, Exploded Views, 2011 (installation detail); 2880 LED lights, custom electronics; Commissioned by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, courtesy the artist and Hosfelt Gallery, San Francisco – New York; Jim Campbell, photo: Sarah Christianson
Jim Campbell, Exploded Views (Improv), 2011 (installation view); 2880 LED lights, custom electronics; Choreography: Alonzo King LINES Ballet; Commissioned by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, courtesy the artist and Hosfelt Gallery, San Francisco – New York; Jim Campbell, photo: Sarah Christianson
Watch this video to learn more. You can also visit the SFMOMA from now till September 25, 2012 to see it for yourself. A series of four different films will be shown, changing every two months. The first is a collaboration with Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet.
Big thanks to SFMOMA for sending over these pics.