Millicent Young
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work > the luminous rooms (2016)

Luminous Room is an installation of over 1500 strands of horse tail hair each individually suspended from 31 stretched cables. Each strand is about 10 feet long, made by tying 3 or 4 tiny bundles of hairs along a length of sewing thread in an alternating pattern. Each knot is glued and hung to dry. The increased density of the bundles and the different texture of hair creates the presence within the room. These interior strands are slightly longer and pool on the ground. The Luminous room was a site specific installation central to Forms for a New Mythology, a solo exhibition, 2016, Sweet Briar College. It also spawned the collaborative film project Remembering Awe. Described by Kelly Kivland as a piece "...that speaks to the impossibility of measuring our fragility...", I made Luminous Room during a time of intense and relentless losses in my life. 'How much can I lose and still remain?' was my question. It was recognized by Kivland (Dia) and Helga Christoffersen (New Museum) with an award of excellence, Dave Bown Projects 2016. I am eternally grateful to Nathan Wiser for his presence and assistance with this project.

luminous room (horse hair, thread, cable; 10' x 7' x 7')


luminous room (horse hair, thread, cable; 10' x 7' x 7')


luminous room (installation, Forms for a New Mythology, solo 2016) (horse hair, thread, cable; 10' x 7 x 7)


luminous room (installation, Forms for a New Mythology, solo 2016) (horse hair, thread, cable; 10 x 7 x 7)


white luminous room (installation, Forms for a New Mythology, solo 2016)) (horse hair, thread, cable; 10 x 7 x 7)


white luminous room (detail)


luminous room (hanging the strands)


luminous room prototype (horse hair, thread, cable; 10' x 4' x 4')


luminous room prototype (horse hair, thread, cable; 10' x 4' x 4')


luminous room prototype (in process) (horse hair, thread, cable; 10' x 4' x 4')