Year of Award
2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Degree Name
Art
Department or School/College
School of Visual and Media Arts
Committee Chair
Kevin Bell
Commitee Members
Cathryn Mallory Michael Musick Matthew Hamon
Subject Categories
Interactive Arts | Interdisciplinary Arts and Media | Painting
Abstract
Luminous Threshold is an interactive experience exploring the liminal transition between the viewer and ambiguous spaces. My thesis exhibition incorporates two paintings, one continuous pulsing light structure, two sound-activated light structures, and a black cube that is perceived to be inserted through the gallery wall. The paintings and forms explore liminality within a two-dimensional space, while the light pieces create an ephemeral viewer- participation experience. Liminality, defined by Arnold Van Gennep and Victor Turner, is one of three stages in life an individual will go through. It is considered a Rite of Passage or Threshold and is the ambiguous transitional stage where anything can happen. I focus on the ambiguity and transition into the liminal state, drawing inspiration from Minimalist artists, the Light, and Space movement, and contemporary artists including Donald Judd, Robert Morris, James Turrell, Larry Bell, Olafur Eliasson, and Anish Kapoor. Similarly, I am interested in using alternative materials, technology, and manipulated spaces to create a unique experience for the viewer. Both light and silence have physiological and mental effects on the human mood, circadian rhythm, and vision. With the combined benefits of light and silence, Luminous Threshold brings awareness of our present liminal space.
Recommended Citation
Wen, Peggy, "Luminous Threshold" (2021). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 11752.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/11752
© Copyright 2021 Peggy Wen