Shadowplay: Interactions of Artificial Illumination and Darkness

Abstract

This article explores the aesthetic and philosophical aspects of shadowplay: the multiple and layered interactions between artificial illumination and darkness in urban environments. By examining the concept of shadows through the perspectives of theorists Roy Sorensen and Jun'ichiro Tanizaki, I explore the dynamic tension between darkness, seen as a natural phenomenon, and the fragmented light created by modern technology. The study delves into how artificial light transforms the nocturnal city, influencing both urban life and aesthetic experiences. The first section of the paper addresses darkness in philosophical aesthetics, referencing thinkers such as Kant and Burke, and considers recent research on artificial illumination's ecological and social impacts. The second part analyzes the unique qualities of shadows, drawing from Tanizaki's appreciation for traditional Japanese aesthetics and Sorensen's analytic dissection of shadow phenomena in terms of privation. Through a combination of philosophical inquiry and visual artistic research, the article seeks to provide a deeper understanding of how shadows and artificial light contribute to the aesthetic and emotional experience of contemporary urban nights.