Butterflies represent different emotions and meanings in different cultures and are frequently used in both visual and literary arts.   Dominic has through his travels selected his favourite ten butterflies as subjects for each of the edition.    Some of these are native to specific regions he has travelled to, whilst others are more commonly found across the globe.

Each of the selected species has been re-interpreted as a ‘living’ portrait of the specimens, with each butterfly exhibiting its own unique mannerisms and attributes. When the viewer approaches the artwork the butterfly changes from a resting pose to a flight mode, tracking the viewer to best display its beautiful wings in a slow motion flight.

This will be the inaugural edition of Design Days Dubai, the first fair in the Middle East and South Asia dedicated to collectible and limited edition design. Held in partnership with the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage, Design Days Dubai is a forward-thinking concept that presents exclusive and limited edition furniture, objects and works by international designers.

As the user moves their arms a new wing shape appears, unfurling from the shoulders, moving and displacing virtual snow. The wings are created dynamically and are linked to the participant. The artwork has a ‘memory’, capturing a hidden view of the participant and their angel wings, and this specific angel identity remains linked to that participant in any future encounters with the artwork.

The merging of angel mythology and the natural phenomenon of light travelling to earth creates an intriguing intersection. In modern terms, light is our messenger, allowing us to view the universe. An angel’s form is inherently human, yet an angel always originates from beyond.

Surface and planarity is represented by a wafer thin glowing white face composed of layered phosphor compounds. Below, the supporting clear acrylic bars act as light tunnels for high brightness blue LEDs. As the blue light hits the thin phosphor layer, various elements of the compound shift the light to different wavelengths which together collectively emit a brilliant white surface. High intensity light is obscured from view due to total internal reflection, completing Phable’s supernatural appearance.

As a manifold object Phable blurs between table and light, reducing both to basic geometric elements that react depending on the viewer’s  sensory response and spatial proximity.

The artwork is inspired by Man Ray photograms and scientific simulations of biogeochemical cycles and speculates on the supervenience of systems on different scales. As a triptych, three phase states of water are depicted in pinpoint quality, and optical behaviours coalescing with motions pertaining to state.

The artwork recalls Dominic’s fascination with early exploration into light-based medias and their growth as tools for scientific imaging, and the playful exploration of its potentials through artistic medias in contemporary art. The relationship between the understanding of complex phenomena and the desire to comprehend their traits often rely on representational medias to embody their meaning, thereby creating a separate sensorial experience.

Opaline spheres of light are encased in a layered mirror and glass structure, causing reflections to bounce back and forth. A volume of colour and movement is created through a flat surface, giving the artwork seemingly infinite depth.