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Light-Space Modulator

Motorized kinetic sculpture by László Moholy-Nagy (1922–1930), made of perforated steel, plastic, and glass. When illuminated and set in motion, it casts moving light patterns on surrounding walls — simultaneously a sculpture and a light projection machine. Harvard Art Museums.

Scholarly Significance

Moholy-Nagy's kinetic sculpture — the Bauhaus's most radical machine-art object; anchor for Light-Space iconography and kinetic sculpture.

Notes

  • ·Designed c.1922–1923 but not fully realized until 1930 for the Paris Werkbund Exhibition.
  • ·Moholy-Nagy filmed it in motion for the short film 'Ein Lichtspiel schwarz-weiss-grau' (1930) — one of the first kinetic art films.
  • ·The sculpture is fully functional when powered; conservation teams at Harvard maintain its motorized operation.
  • ·Influenced subsequent kinetic art, light art (Zero Group, GRAV), and later light installations.
  • ·Replica versions were produced; the Harvard example is the original.