The Luminous Envelope

Gabrielle Hoad | The Luminous Envelope | 2015 | Digital photograph

The Luminous Envelope is a series of photographs made in response to Fresnel's Wave Surface, one of a collection of late 19th century/early 20th century teaching models held at Oxford University's Mathematical Institute. It describes the propagation of light in an optically biaxial crystal. The crystal's molecular structure causes light to refract in predictable ways, and the university's model offers a 'snapshot' of this wavefront as it radiates from the centre.

The model renders the behaviour of light as solid, interlocking, plaster objects. I set out to invert that process by dissolving tangible objects (cubes, cones) into zones of light. Techniques used to make the images incorporate polarisation, a phenomenon employed in the study of crystals.

The photographs can be seen in 'Illegitimate Objects', alongside work from other artists working with different models from the Oxford collection. The exhibition runs from 18 September to 12 November 2015 at the Oxford Mathematical Institute, Andrew Wiles Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2

https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/node/14879