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# Text Lights
Nathan Coley's Floating Text Messages

By Cowbag | Published 2008-09-17 | Art & Design
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/text-in-lights-art-instalations-from-nathan-coley
References: [doggerfisher](http://www.doggerfisher.com/artists/artistdetail.php?id=47&current=0&imagecount=4)

These [light text installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shapes-of-light) are by UK artist Nathan Coley. The messaging in these pieces is neither negative nor positive which is one of the things I love about them. I also love that they look really beautiful from a distance, but close up, it is [a mess of scaffold](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/craig-karl2).

To understand a little more about these pieces here is an extract from his artists statement come blog:

*"Nathan Coley (born Glasgow, 1967, lives and works in Dundee) investigates the social aspects of our built environment in works in a diverse range of media including [public and gallery-based sculpture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/forest-dancer), photography, drawing and video."*

Like the artistic equivalent of the swan theory, it's beautiful and serene on top, but under the water, not so much.

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 1.1/10
- Popularity: 22% | Activity: 2% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Millennial
- Top markets: North America, Europe

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Modern](https://www.trendhunter.com/modern)

## Key Themes

### What Makes This Trend Stand Out

- **Light Text Installations:** Opportunity for creating captivating and immersive experiences using light and text in artistic installations.
- **Social Commentary Art:** Potential for using art to convey thought-provoking messages about society and the built environment.
- **Mixed Media Exploration:** Exploring the combination of different artistic mediums, such as sculpture, photography, drawing, and video.

### Sectors Adopting This

- **Art and Design:** Innovative artwork installations and social commentary art can disrupt traditional notions of artistic expression and engage viewers in new ways.
- **Lighting and Visual Effects:** The use of light text installations opens up opportunities for creating visually stunning and captivating experiences in various industries, such as events, entertainment, and advertising.
- **Architecture and Urban Planning:** Exploring the social aspects of the built environment through mixed media artwork can inspire new perspectives on urban design, public spaces, and community engagement.

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