The Light Penetrates the Dark

Synopsis

Zdenek Pešánek created the first public kinetic sculpture, for the power station in Prague. This short experimental film focuses on a kinetic sculpture by Zdenek Pešánek. For a period of eight years it issued beams of light from the outside wall of a transformer station at Prague’s power utility before its destruction in 1939. Though genuine, these shots seem abstract to us. They are a rhythmically assembled ode to the light-creating devices and phenomena of electricity. Light arcs, coils, bulbs and various luminous elements support the alternation of positive and negative film images, creating an impressive universe of light and shade. In the 1920s, Pešánek had obtained financial support for his work with electric kinetic light art. In the 1930s, he was the first sculptor to use neon lights. He built several kinetic light pianos, and published a book titled “Kinetismus” in 1941. —http://www.centerforvisualmusic.org

Main Cast

Crew

Department	Role	Name
Directing	Director	Otakar Vávra František Pilát
Camera	Director of Photography	František Pilát
Writing	Idea	Otakar Vávra
	Screenplay	Otakar Vávra Jaroslav R. Vávra
Editing	Editor	Otakar Vávra
Art	Art Designer	Zdeněk Pešánek
Department	Role	Name

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