What is visible light, but merely radiation within the electromagnetic spectrum that can be perceived by the human eye? But there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to perceiving light from two standpoints: The human condition and the human in motion. This is what AC Motors seeks to unveil in its initiative to support the most creative and moving minds in the local and international art scene at the Art Fair Philippines 2020 from February 21 to 23 at The Link in Ayala Center, Makati City.
For AC Motors’ space in the Art Fair, the work of Filipino-American artist James Clar takes the spotlight. Using laser lights, Clar creates fully immersive and engaging light environments that explore perceptions of reality, time and space. His work focuses on the effects of technology on human lives, whose systems limit and modify communication and expressions.
Laser, an acronym for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,” has been extensively used in the manufacturing, medical, military and law enforcement, and in the entertainment industries. In the automobile industry, laser lights (which are 1,000 times more powerful than the latest LED lights) are now being used for car headlamps on premium cars, by using a blue laser to produce highly directional white light.
US-born Clar, who lives alternately in New York and Tokyo and maintains productions in New York, Tokyo, and Manila, studied film as an undergraduate at New York University then went on to obtain his Masters at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program before moving away from screen-based work to start working directly with light, creating sculptural lighting pieces. By developing his own systems with which to manipulate light, he discovered he could create unique visual displays, as well as circumvent the limitations of screen-based work, namely resolution and two-dimensionality.
In Art Fair Philippines 2020, Clar’s play on laser lights and his work’s portrayal of automotive technology as a medium of communication place the spotlight on the evolving public perception of motoring and mobility, especially in this age of conservation and sustainability where precise and ultra-focused engineering and designs are required of man-made systems to achieve efficiency in time and resources.
It is this new age that AC Motors’ six automotive brand partners envision themselves to thrive in, which is why Clar’s representation in this year’s Art Fair Philippines hopes to showcase AC Motor’s focused vision in this sustainable light.
