Tesla ‘Electric Portrait’ is a lighting installation created as homage to electrical pioneer and ‘father of modern technology’ Nikola Tesla. It was produced as a collaboration between lighting designers ambience and artist Duro Cubrilo.

Built using 759 energy efficient LED globes mounted to a grid, various mask diameters were perfectly measured around the curve of each globe – allowing exact light levels to escape at different sizes. When viewed as a collective the dots recreate an iconic image of Nikola Tesla.

The concept behind the use of ‘traditional’ shaped globes (associated with Edison) is a playful reference to infamous rivalry between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla; with Tesla being largely unrecognised for a number of his groundbreaking achievements while Edison received many plaudits. Tesla is designed to be engaged with by the viewer when both illuminated and dormant.

Photography by Ben Glezer

[vimeo 156241525 w=720&h=480]