Light wars pit art against projections

Dripping paint on the walls of the MCA this week is a symptom of the profile of light festivals. But there's more to light art than projections.
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​Ever since the development of the light bulb, the intensity and drama of light and shadow from an incandescent light source has fascinated artists. 

In each stage of its history, from the invention of the fluorescent tube in the 1850s to the growth of neon advertising signage in the early 20th Century,  artists embraced this new medium. Light art emerged concurrent to this embrace of modern wonder, and its ability to create an immersive viewing experience.

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Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's National Visual Arts Editor. For a decade she worked as a freelance writer and curator across Southeast Asia and was previously the Regional Contributing Editor for Hong Kong based magazines Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. Prior to writing she worked as an arts manager in America and Australia for 14 years, including the regional gallery, biennale and commercial sectors. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Twitter: @ginafairley Instagram: fairleygina