Visiting "Solid Light" | An exhibition by Anthony McCall
- Making To Make Happy
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
I recently went to visit Tate Modern in London, UK, to view the "Solid Light" exhibition by Anthony McCall.
For me, it was an absorbing experience that absolutely captured my imagination. It was seemingly so simple - just beams of light cutting through the darkness - but to be able to step into those beams and be transported into other worlds... that was pretty special.
Beams of light projected through a thin mist create large three-dimensional forms in space, which slowly shift and change. As you move through these translucent sculptures of light, you’ll create new shapes and discover your own mesmerising perspectives. - Tate Modern
As I first stepped into the gallery, I entered a small room which displayed drawings and plans that McCall makes in preparation for creating the sculptures. There was some beautiful framed photography of the misty sculptures, as a hint of what was to come...
The following room was showing one of McCall's early films, Landscape For Fire 1973, which documented a short performance of lighting fires in a field within a precise geometric grid. I'll admit, I was a bit too intrigued by the next room to stay and watch the full film - I know, I'm sorry! - but I just really was itching to see the light sculptures.
And so, I stepped into the dark...
It took a moment to adjust to the darkness, but as I did I could see a few shadowy people moving around. It wasn't busy at all though, which was wonderful, as it meant everyone could interact with the sculptures without encroaching on other's enjoyment.
The first sculpture I encountered was actually only just starting to unfurl, and so, at first I was a little confused as to what it would become, or what I should do. I hung back and watched for a while, seeing what other people did, and watching to see how the light moved. There were lots of benches dotted around, which was great (although hard to spot in the dark!), as I could quietly sit at any point and take in the sights and sounds.
The soundtrack was like listening to wind - airy, stormy, building and falling. As I write it, it sounds a bit tumultuous, but I found it calming and intriguing. Listen out on the videos below and you'll get the sense of it!
I was on my own visiting, and so felt a little self conscious to step into a sculpture at first. However, because it was so quiet, I soon lost my awkwardness and let myself play.
As I explored the other sculptures, all at different points in growth, I started to understand them. Each sculpture starts as a pinpoint of light, that draws a line of light. As the line grows, it traces a curve onto a screen. As the curve gets bigger, it begins to form a wall of solid light. When the curve meets itself, or another line, the walls connect up - and if you step inside the curve, you are effectively standing inside a solid sculpture of light.
The first time I stepped inside a fully formed curve of light, and looked back into the beam, I was hooked. It's magical. I felt like I had stepped into space, looking at the sun cresting through the clouds of a galaxy. Misty air is pumped into the space, which dances through the light beams, creating swirls and eddies around you. If you move, you disturb the air too, so you add to the movement and life of the sculpture.
I don't know how long I spent in this exhibition, because once I was amongst these sculptures I felt like I was in another world. I had moments of pause, moments of interaction and moments of escape. My favourite moments were standing inside the sculptures - in those I felt utterly absorbed, utterly alone in a universe I never knew I could enter.
I can say, I thoroughly enjoyed this exhibition - it fascinated me and inspired me. If you are similarly enamoured by light sculpture, you will probably enjoy it too. This exhibition is on at Tate Modern in London until 29th June 2025. If you get a chance to see these sculptures elsewhere in future, do take the opportunity, it's well worth it.
Thanks for reading!
Keep making happy,
Gemma 💛