Of light and glass and picturing Second Life

The Linden Endowments for the Arts is hosting a series of 16 “interim” art projects through until the end of January 2013. I’ve already covered the Flash Mob event on LEA26 and LEA 27, and both The Wonderful World of Particles and Paper Observatory, which are displayed at LEA13 and LEA21 respectively. Here I pay a visit to two more of the installations, created by Frankx Lefavre and Thea Dee.

Frankx LeFavre – LEA19

“I  build  at night,” Frankx Lefavre explained during my visit to his installation at LEA19, “And no, I’m not  a vampire! I see the light better in the dark.”

Speaking as one who likes to play with scripted lighting effects in the darkness of SL’s night, I understand exactly where he is coming from; the interplay of light and dark has always been fascinating to many people from earliest times – right from when humans first looked in awe  at the night sky with its myriad of stars and started to wonder as to their meaning.

Awe is the emotional response one has with Frankx’s build. While it has no formal name, in talking to me about it, Frankx used the term “light and glass” – and it is altogether an appropriate description of this piece. At its centre is a beautiful, towering sculpture of light and glass set against the backdrop of a starless night (do make sure you accept the region’s windlight on arrival or set your viewer to midnight. you might also want to set your draw distance to around the 400 metre mark). Surrounding this at ground level and on platforms reached by beautiful stairways or floating in the air on their own, are a series of sculptures and set pieces for the visitor to discover.

No descriptive note card is provided for the installation, and there is no clear way down from the elevated arrival point. both of these are intentional, the aim being for the visitor to explore the build as they please, on foot and by flying, and to form their own ideas and opinions about and on it. “It is what it is,” as Frankx said to me: it is what our imaginations see.

And there is much to see here – far more than may first seem to be the case. Prims, sculpts, particles are all are used to tremendous effect, both as a part of the whole installation and as individual set pieces and focal points within and around it. Movement plays an important, if subtle role as well, both within in individual sculptures, many of which have their own moving elements, and within the larger build, such as through the cloud-like sheets of glass and light which scud across the sky.

This is very much a design where words and photographs are simply not enough; it is an installation which should be visited and experienced. Recommended.

Thea Dee – LEA18

Thea Dee has been a resident of Second Life since 2011 and has established a reputation as a photographer who creates striking images of Second Life using minimal post-processing for the most part.

The  installation at LEA18 is an exhibition of Thea’s work in capturing many memorable images from the very diverse nature of regions and builds across Second Life. These are offered to the visitor in a very simple, but highly effective environment comprising an oval wall around the region, passing through a series of simple wooden structures – pavilions, if you will – in which thea’s work is displayed in groups of six.

Thea’s work is always eye-catching, and the design and layout of this installation allows the visitor to enjoy it to the fullest, and it makes an ideal place to visit if you simply want to wander an enjoy the sights of Second Life through the eyes of a creative photographer and artist.

Make sure you take the note card at the arrival point – it will point you to more of Thea’s work in-world.

Related Links

• Frankx Lefarve – LEA19 (Rated: Moderate)
• Thea Dee – Lea18 (Rated: Moderate)