Fire art
Encyclopedia
Fire Art is a term used to describe a piece of art that uses active flames
as an essential part of the piece. The piece may either use flame effects as part of a sculpture, or be a choreographed performance of fire effects as the piece burns; the latter being almost a type of performance art.
In large stationary pieces, propane gas is a popular fuel. The gas escaping from its container can be set alight. Different plumbing, pressures, nozzles alter the nature of the flames. Controlling how the propane mixes with the oxygen in the air is important.
Liquid fuels like alcohol, methanol, kerosene, mixes of kerosene and diesel etc can produce spectacular results though extra precautions must be taken with liquids because they fall and splash while gasses usually dissipate.
Note that some colorants are toxic and shouldn't be used in proximity to people.
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
as an essential part of the piece. The piece may either use flame effects as part of a sculpture, or be a choreographed performance of fire effects as the piece burns; the latter being almost a type of performance art.
Why Use Fire
Many aspects of fire draw people to work in the medium.- It has a direct impact on its surrounding by consuming materials and by throwing off heat and light.
- It is an active medium, constantly moving and appearing to be aliveLifeLife is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased , or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate...
. - There is an inherent perceived danger to fire.
Notable Artists and Pieces
- Flaming Simon by Eric Singer (Erok)
- Dance Dance ImmolationDance Dance ImmolationDance Dance Immolation is an interactive performance piece by fire art group based out of the artist work space known as NIMBY in East Oakland. It is a modified version of Dance Dance Revolution where players are shot with fire if they perform poorly. Participants are not harmed since they wear a...
& Syzygrd by Interpretive Arson - Fire Pendulum by Pyrokinetics
- Fire Vortex by Nate Smith
- Large Hot Pipe Organ by Bastiaan Maris
- BrollyFlock!, FishBug and the Temple of Flux by Flux Foundation
- Spike, Pnuema and other fire art by Charles A. Gadeken
- The Serpent Mother, Mutopia, Angel of the Apocolyse, Hand of God, Typani Lambada and others by Flaming Lotus Girls
- Survival Research LaboratoriesSurvival Research LaboratoriesSurvival Research Laboratories is a machine performance art group credited for pioneering the genre of large-scale machine performance. After about 30 years in San Francisco, California, SRL spent most of 2008 moving to Petaluma, California....
Fuels
Modern fire art is practiced with many different fuels. The choice of fuel is largely dependent on the effects desired.In large stationary pieces, propane gas is a popular fuel. The gas escaping from its container can be set alight. Different plumbing, pressures, nozzles alter the nature of the flames. Controlling how the propane mixes with the oxygen in the air is important.
Liquid fuels like alcohol, methanol, kerosene, mixes of kerosene and diesel etc can produce spectacular results though extra precautions must be taken with liquids because they fall and splash while gasses usually dissipate.
Colorants
Most colorants are solids ground into a powder. As the powder is heated, it begins to oxidize and burns a color particular to the chemical used. Some colorants can be dissolved in alcohol or water or other liquids to facilitate their dispersion in the fire.Note that some colorants are toxic and shouldn't be used in proximity to people.
External links
- Fire Art of Burning Man Gallery curated/edited by Louis M. Brill and LadyBee for Leonardo/ISAST