Playing with Light

The boys and I live in an apartment that is filled with light. I am grateful for the architect, whoever they were 100 years ago, that added so many windows to the unit.

We don’t own the building, which is fine but also a bummer because I am always looking for ways to modify whatever space I’m in, be it a cubicle, metal shop, or home. If I own a space then I can add, move, remove, or leave alone any of the structure. And when I don’t own a space then my options are not necessarily limited so much as they are different, and it’s up to me to be curious about what I can do and then make moves.

Ok. Back to light.

I cannot add or remove any of the windows, but I can play with how the light dances with the room. This takes my mind to Tadao Ando, a Japanese architect that is very thoughtful about light and shadow.

Isn’t that wild? Feels cold, austere, like a myth from the future. Here’s a collage of how light and shadow show up in Ando’s buildings:

My friend Steve pointed me towards Ando. I saw a few photos then took a week-long adventure into whatever I could find, a path that led to me thinking about my apartment with the boys, our windows, and light as a material.

So I started to play.

It’s a good start. I like the direction. I’m working on leaving any analyzation at the door — just make the work as it feels right, put it up, live with it, make 10 more variations if it seems like something is there.