Cloud Light
A ray of late-afternoon sunlight pierces a cloud. A lighting object inspired by a cloud diffusing the setting sunlight. Designed using GLSL shader code, Python, and Rhino+Grasshopper.
| Link | media.mit.edu ↗︎ |
| Exhibited at | Plexus Projects - GUI/GOOEY ↗︎ |
| Role | coder, designer, manufacturer |
| Materials | White Oak Plywood, Frosted Acrylic, Copper Vinyl, Steel Rods, Diodes |
| Manufacturing | automatic tool change CNC milling, laser cutter, vinyl cutter |
Cloud Light
A lighting object inspired by a cloud diffusing the setting sunlight. Designed and built at MIT Media Lab↗︎.
Concept
Cloud Light draws on the poetry of a cloud illuminated by the warm, late-afternoon sunlight. It takes it shape from the cloud-like geometries produced by smooth unioned SDF spheres.
GLSL shader code
curve data / Processing
Diffusion
Clouds offer a natual form of sunlight diffusion. Cloud Light diffuses the embedded light sources with it's frosted acrylic layers.
Construction
Cloud light is made from alternating layers of white oak plywood and frosted acrylic. The plywood layers are embedded with copper vinyl and small surface-mount diodes that illuminate the object. The layers of acrylic diffuse the light and create a translucent appearance.
Exhibition
Cloud Light is permanently documented on the MIT Media Lab website↗︎.
Cloud Light is currently on view in Plexus Project's group show "GUI/GOOEY"↗︎ from 03/01/2023 - 05/01/2023.