All is one is derived from the first divine law of the universe – “all is one and one is all”
In this experimental piece I set out to capture the elements smoke, fire and water and the ways in which they interact with light and other materials.
In my investigation with smoke, light played a crucial role in helping me capture this element at its best. Numerous LEDs were fixated on the smoke’s movements, overlapping in parts to create depth and bring life to the inanimate gas.
When playing with fire (if you pardon the pun) it was important to be cautious, as the aim was to create safe fireballs that I would be able to capture, dancing with the wind. By settling alight tightly wound cotton balls, drizzled with enough lighter fluid to ignite and flicker for a while but not burn through all the cotton. Getting the perfect lighting to encapsulate these movements was crucial here also.
Experimenting with water was more complex. In order to capture and track each small experiment underwater, in extreme slow-motion, I had to perform these each in a fish tank. With lighting being a key theme, I had lit up from underneath, using some waterproof LEDs with carbon batteries, so that they sunk. With this set up I was able to position a Blackmagic 4k mini-ursa with a macro lens up against the glass and set up to 120 fps as I carried out each observational study.
Over the duration of this piece, the once clear and still water is overcome by cloud like splutters of food dye resembling the smoke clips that intermittently placed throughout. Additionally, the fireballs, once multiple vivid burning orbs, slowly diminish and burn out completely.
