One of the most devastating lights that makes us question might be the light of destruction, the light of war that ignites the world. Phosphorus, etymologically rooted in the English term ‘bringing light,’ which refers Lucifer, carries a poignant symbolism. The light seen at the grave on a dark night is called by different names, such as ‘Will-o’-the-wisp’, ‘Irrlicht’, and ‘Monster light’. This is said to be the light that emerges from the phosphorus in the bones of a corpse. White phosphorus, invented from phosphorus extracted from human urine, was industrialized through a matchbox for pocketable fire. These early inventions caused many industrial injuries and deaths for workers of the matchbox factory. Today, white phosphorus is still used in many wars, takes people’s lives, causes traumatic injuries and losses, and destroys our environment. Through the prism of light, the work questions death and destruction perpetuated by humans.

installation
Porcelain, matches, sound, video, dimension diverse

video & sound
00:05:13

poem from 'A Time Between Ashes And Roses' by   Adonis
voices by Toqa Eissa, Mohammad Abo Shukur




https://ail.angewandte.at/program/refractive-perspectives