Edge of Light | exhibition and performance | Plaxall Gallery, Queens NY | 2020

Edge of Light was a light art exhibition curated by Holo Center and Jonathan Sims for Plaxall Gallery in LIC. Testu Collective curated artists ÉMU and Paloma Kop, creating a series of AV performances for the opening of the online show. Artists Testu, The concept behind Testu’s performance comes from plastics manufacturing in which birefringence is observed in stress tests of polymer structures. Birefringence is the optical property of a material having a refractive index that depends on the polarization and propagation direction of light. Dan Tesene fabricated a custom-built polariscope with polarizing film in which he manipulates and essentially stresses the plastic live through a macro lens. The macro video then creates a new world of textured landscapes, inspired by techniques used in old sci-fi films. Serena Stucke created the soundtrack with modular synths and field recordings with direct and contact mics on plastic film being stretched and processed through pedals, creating a textural soundscape to an imaginary film.

Creative concept by Testu Collective @testucollective
Audiovisual set by ÉMU @emuaudiovisual
Audiovisual set by Paloma Kop @palomakop
Curated by Jonathan Sims @chromadetic
Curated by Holo Center @holocenternyc