Holography, a three-dimensional photography process that uses coherent light to reconstruct the pattern of light reflected from a scene, stands out as a major advancement of the 19th century. It has established itself in various fields, including industry, communication, and art.

The science behind holography

Holography requires "coherent" light to make interferences and holograms. This is why laser light is used, which has all the characteristics necessary for visualizing holograms. It is monochromatic, directive and in phase, which means that all photons have the same frequency or color, spatial coherence and temporal coherence.

The process of creating holograms

In summary, holography consists of interfering, on a holographic plate, two beams of coherent light from the same laser. The first is directed onto the plate and the second onto the object to be holographed, which in turn diffuses the light it receives towards the plate.

The meeting of these two beams creates interference fringes. These fringes contain information about the shape of the object and its position in space. After chemical development, the plate is illuminated with the laser at the same angle as the reference beam. The object is then reconstructed in three-dimensional space and as a volume of light.

Holography and art

Holography has been adopted by many artists as a tool to create unique works of art. For example, the famous English fashion designer Alexander McQueen presented a holographic installation during his Fall-Winter 2006 haute couture show. Similarly, the French artist Philippe Boissonnet has used holograms in his plastic practice to reproduce reality for an artistic purpose.

Holography in advertising

Holography has also been used in advertising to create captivating and memorable images. For example, for the Cartier brand, Robert Schinella, in collaboration with Mc Donnell Douglas Electronics Company St Louis, created a hologram of a female arm wearing the brand's jewelry.

Holography in haute couture

Fashion designer Alexander McQueen presented a holographic installation in the heart of a glass pyramid at his Fall-Winter 2006 Haute Couture show: Kate Moss as the "white lady".

Holography in commerce

In the commercial field, some stores have started using holograms to improve the customer experience. For example, at HaloLight , you will find several holographic illusions, such as the holographic propeller and the holographic projector .

The Light Artists

Emmett Leith and Juris Upatnieks are two of the pioneers of holography. They presented the first three-dimensional hologram of a train at a conference of the Optical Society of America in 1964.

Contemporary artists and holography

Contemporary artists such as Philippe Boissonnet and Georges Dyens have also adopted holography in their works. Dyens, for example, creates holosculptures, sound and light installations integrating holography, sculpture and optical fibers.

Holography: An Optical Art

Holography is considered an optical art because it uses light to create an image in direct confrontation with the viewer's eye. The artist treats light as he would treat a sculpture floating in space.

Holography: A bridge between art, science and technology

According to Professor Stephen A. Benton, "Holography is the intersection of art, science, and technology." This statement highlights the unique role of holography in creating works of art that combine scientific and technological elements.

Conclusion

Holography is an innovative tool that fascinates and intrigues. Although its use remains quite expensive, it offers a new medium for artistic expression, creating physically elusive three-dimensional images that appear to float in space. Over time, we can expect holography to become increasingly accessible and popular in the contemporary art world.