Fire itself is the symbol of perpetual change because it transforms a substance into another substance without being a substance itself. Within Flux and Fire the process of transformation does not happen by chance, but is the product of reason as participants realize they control a primordial element… fire.
The beauty in Flux and Fire is that it can be experienced and controlled by 1-2 adult participants, 2-4 children or a family.
Participants interact and control the flames via 16 sensors on a 6 foot circular platform. Expanding outward from this interactive central platform is a second ring that houses 16 inconspicuous flame effects. The platform and surrounding flame ring are unassuming until a participant interacts with the platform sensors setting off large 10 foot columns of fire.
The esthetic and experiential goal of Flux
and Fire is to create a safe space where participants feel as though their
movements are creating the fire. To
other Nuit Blanche onlookers, it will seem as though they are watching a
magician, conductor or any number of personal interpretations of the performer
on the platform.
Philosophy of Flux and Fire
Heraclitus (~500BC) was admired by his contemporaries for the
theory of flux, which influenced many generations of philosophers after
him. Before Heraclitus everything was firmly embedded into an
indivisible universe. The common principles of nature were perceived as
everlasting and unchangeable.
Heraclitus looked at everything as being in the state of permanent
flux and, hence, reality being merely a succession of transitory
states. He held that fire is the primordial element out of which
everything else arises.
Another of Heraclitus' main teachings can be called the "unity of
opposites". The unity of opposites means that opposites cannot exist
without each other - there is no day without night, no warm without
cold, no light without darkness, and no good without bad.
To put it in his own words: "It is wise to agree that all things are one. In differing it agrees with itself.”
Comparing the convergence of opposites is perfectly in harmony
with his theory of flux and fire.Fire itself is the symbol of perpetual
change because it transforms a substance into another substance without
being a substance itself.
Within
Flux and Fire the process of transformation does not happen by chance, but is
the product of reason as participants realize they control a
primordial element… fire!
