'Women Light Artists': a collection of light art that includes manipulations of the medium

Can light evoke emotions? Can light transpose the past and the present? Can light hold a mirror for the introspection of one’s soul?

Though theologically, the 'guiding light' of spiritual powers may provide answers to these questions, practically it is hard to believe that patterns of visible electromagnetic radiation can hold such an impact on human senses. But think about the last time you watched a movie in a theatre, a documentary on a temporary screen at a biennale or exhibition or the last time a light art installation enlivened your city. There is something about the artistic aspirations of light that transcend conventional concepts of art. Light, when taken as a medium for art, not only represents the artist's message but extends to deeper narratives, where viewers engage in finding their own meaning and definitions. While factors such as variations in light and dark, its levels, the space it illuminates and shades, form and location contribute to the sensorial experience, it often oscillates in the presence and absence of light—as an object, a narrator and an actor.

However, like in many disciplines, gender disparity is a common sight in the light art industry, with women being denied recognition and much-deserved fame, despite their artworks being recognised. This thought along with The Women in Lighting project, formed the inspiration for the curation of the book, Women Light Artists by UK-based 'Light Collective.'

"After 25 plus years in the world of light, it became apparent, that there is an onus on and huge visibility of male artists who work with or have worked with light within their body of work. Many are well-known names and are often cited as inspiration in the work of lighting designers. While there are few names that come up when discussing female light artists—the financially successful artist—Yayoi Kusama; the political rebel, Jenny Holzer; and lover of daylight, Nancy Holt, like the rest of the art world, the exposure of their work is less and our knowledge of light artists remains unbalanced in terms of gender. If you want to prove this further, just type the words ‘Light Artist’ into Google—(and) out of the first 15 artists shown by the world’s leading search engine only two are female,” mentions Light Collective. 

Following their project, The Women in Lighting, Martin Lupton and Sharon Stammers of Light Collective found and researched over 150 women creating light-based art. From this, they asked over 40 women to participate—by sharing images of their work. They define the book as "a small step towards trying to redress the unfair imbalance in visibility," adding, “this collection of light art from women artists includes a multitude of manipulations of the medium. Directing the viewer to contemplate colour, nature, politics, life and even death, the true power of light as an artistic medium is perfectly portrayed by the artists included.”

Featured in the book are works by female artists, varying from immersive environments to reactive light, beautiful glowing objects that light to tell a story. Known for her site-specific art installations, which often present light in the delicacy, Swedish artist Aleksandra Stratimirovic’s works are a part of the book. Also featured in the book is lighting designer Claudia Paz who transforms public spaces into immersive art, in itself, with the help of light, and has an array of work to her name including Pixel Flow, an immersive interactive light and sound installation in Peru.

British artist who defines herself as Punjabi Liverpudlian, Chila Kumari Singh Burman creates artworks which use light as a medium to represent a bricolage of cultural inspirations. Using light as her key medium, Polish artist Karolina Halatek transitions spaces into a new realm of experiences. With geometric shapes, white light with a foggy environment and a play of solids and void, her installations often appear to be a mystical portal to an unknown world. German artist Jacqueline Hen gained an audience with her immersive installation room that transports visitors to a setting that imparts feelings of a Christopher Nolan film. While the focus of her studies and practice have originally been space, the light installation organically evolved from her exploration of infinite space and the visual and virtual experiences associated with the latter.

New media artist Maja Petrić's artworks combine light, sound and cutting-edge technology. Aiding her in this journey of creating multi-sensory artworks are technologies such as artificial intelligence, computer vision, and robotics. Frankie Boyle is a visual artist based in the UK, who works at the intersection of light, colour, and form aiming to offer a sensorial experience to the audience. German artist Helga Griffiths' works explore the relationship between art and science to create experiential spaces guided by the mysterious nature of light.

For more than 20 years, New York-based new media sculptor Jen Lewin has conceived and created on-site sound and light sculptures that act as immersive playscapes for the public. As a trained architect, her work lies at the interface of art, architecture and technology. Los Angeles and Berlin-based visual artist Yvette Mattern creates a transcendental experience for viewers with a colourful spectrum of light, illuminated at large-scale public installations. The light art installations with high-specification laser light are an effort by Mattern to draw a close connection with a variety of demographics, in a participatory and engaging manner. London-based Danish artist Tine Bech aims at extending her works to an experience for the viewers, to witness the unseen. At the core of Bech's art practice lies interactive engagement between art and the audience. With a belief that “Light connects with us at a sensory level and the beauty of colour pulls us in”—her works are a marriage of both.

British artist Liz West's site-specific immersive light art installations revolve around the idea of colours, guiding emotions and how light adds to this overwhelming presentation. While the art world moves more towards incorporating technology into art, West prefers her works to be a natural choice of colours and aesthetics. A physical overwhelming of emotions through light, words and art defines Tracey Emin’s works. The British multidisciplinary artist works with varying mediums to make tangible meaning for love, loss, grief and desire. Her range of media includes installation, painting, photography, film, sculpture, and neon text.

More female light artists in the book include Christine Istad & Lisa Pacini, Claudia Robles-Angel, Elisa Artesero, Esther Rolinson, Gunda Förster, Kamila Staszczyszyn, Kate Hush, Kate McMillan, Katie Paterson, Laura Bayliss, Lauren Baker, Liliane Lijn, Ling-Li Tseng, Lyn Godley, Martina Tritthart, Motoko Ishii & Akari-Lisa Ishii, Nandita Palchoudhuri, Paula Castillo T, Rebeca Sanchez Pastor, Sabine de Schutter, Sarah Blood, Soo Sunny Park, Stefanie Egedy & Camille Laurent, Synthestruct, Titia Ex, Victoria Coeln and Yoko Seyama

STIR’s coverage of Milan Design Week 2023 showcases the best exhibitions, studios, designers, installations, brands, and special projects to look out for. Explore Euroluce 2023 and all the design districts—5Vie Art and Design, Brera Design District, Fuorisalone, Isola Design District, Tortona District, and Milano Design District—with us.