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Abstract

The visible world in which we exist is contained between darkness and light. We see thanks to the light. The light sent from remote sun, rushing in the form of photons at the speed of 30000 km/s, reaching the earth makes it possible for us to see. Over the centuries, many people - philosophers, artists, writers, poets, scholars - have been fascinated by this extraordinary, though common phenomenon. Thanks to scientific findings, we understand optical phenomena, but the metaphysical reception is an incessant source of inspiration for new generations of artists. The greatest interest in light in philosophy, aesthetics, art, and literature can be found in the Middle Ages - paradoxically, called “the dark ages”. The notion of light in aesthetics and philosophy was introduced by Basil the Great of Caesarea and developed by Pseudo-Dioniosius - author of the formula “consonantia et claritas”, St. Augustine, who identified light with spiritual reality, bishop of Lincoln Robert Grossteste, St. Bonaventura, and St. Thomas Aquinas, who stated that light is the most perfect harmony. Over the centuries, many painters strove to grasp light in their art; Georges de La Tour, Rembrandt, Turner, or the Impressionists. In the 20th century art, artists also deal with light, but not as the material, artistic stuff. That artistic trend is called “light art” or “light and space art”, and it has been applied since the 60s of 20th century. It comprises works of art made of materials which generate light, or create light illusions. The precursors of that trend were Father Louis Bertrand Casel (clavessin oculair), Thomas Wilfred (Lumia), and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy (Licht Raum Modulator). The artists of the “light art” trend include Frank Joseph Malina, the group “Zero”, the group “L.A. Glass and Plastic”, Robert Irwin, James Turell, Dan Flavin, Bruce Naumann, and other artists using light in their works, e.g. Kristian Boltansky, Marcel Duchamp, Poles: Andrzej Pawłowski, Antoni Mikołajczyk, Władysław Hasior, Jan Chwałczyk, Julian Jończyk, Mirosław Filonik, Łukasz Skąpski.