Flylight is a site-specific light installation that directly interacts with its surroundings. The light mimics the behaviour of a flock of birds in flight, symbolizing the conflict between humans, the safety of a group and the freedom of the individual.

While birds are the ultimate symbol of freedom, in a flock they move as one single entity creating mesmerizing patterns. This flock behaviour is an example of ‘self-organization’, meaning that no single bird leads the flight. Amazingly enough, each individual senses the speed and the direction of the group.

It consists of delicate glass tubes that light up in an unpredictable way, partially responsive to external stimuli. This natural phenomenon formed a source of inspiration for Flylight, for which the flock behaviour was translated into agent-based software that was especially developed for this work. This means that the pattern, in which the installation lights up, is not pre-programmed but has an interactive compound: just like a real flock of birds.

The work questions the delicate balance between the group and the individual. Just like birds, people find safety in a group, while at the same time they are forced to act according to a set of rules, on which society functions. Who chooses complete individual freedom above these rules, is forced to operate outside of society. Where lies the perfect balance between the two?

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