Opus 147 "Multidimensional" (1957) and Opus 140 "Visual Counterpoint" by Thomas Wilfred

Though best seen in person, this high definition excerpt offers a glimpse into Wilfred's extraordinary composition of light, color, and form that transforms slowly overtime, exhibiting a delicate array of ephemeral beauty.

Thomas Wilfred was a pioneer of Light Art, and coined the term Lumia to refer to an independent, silent art form.

The compositions featured in this video are what Wilfred referred to as “Recorded Lumia” which is to say that the works are self contained mechanical instruments as opposed to the earlier manually operated Clavilux models.

Born in 1889, Thomas Wilfred found success as an artist when still a young man. Raised in Denmark, he studied painting and poetry in France and England and was already well established as a Lute Player of great reknown before moving to the US and putting music aside to pursue his real passion of composing in an entirely new art form, Lumia. He built his first Clavilux instrument in 1919, and gave a spectacular public debut at New York’s Neighborhood Playhouse in 1922.

Information on Winfred.

Yale Archives of his work.