Applications of Lasers to Kinetic Art for the Theater and Cinema

The author summarizes the history of studies on light and the influence on artists of new knowledge about light, including light produced by lasers. The properties of laser radiation are briefly described. This is followed by a report on artistic applications he has made of lasers for the production of still and kinetic images for use, in particular, in the theater and cinema. The work was carried out under sponsorship of the Scientific Film Association of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. The author developed a laser apparatus for producing kinetic images whose motion can be correlated with rhythm and intensity variations in music. Technical details of the apparatus are provided. In cooperation with Miroslav Nýdl, he used the apparatus in several theater and cinema productions, which are described.