Library Entry - Flame Sculptures
Contacts - Kteaa Aoweh - Itinerant Engineer
Flame Art
In a dimly lit room, a small gathering waited.
On a round, raised dais in the middle of the room, stood a small circular stand, unadorned and empty. As the people waited, a faintly heard tune of ambient music played. Soft footsteps turned heads, and a figure appeared from the door at the back of the room. Soft gold fur and pointed ears informed the gathering that an Aslan was entering. However, the bare arms and flowing robe were not typical of Aslan attire. Soft leather boots and slim slacks were visible under the knee-length, open-front tunic. All the clothing was white, with light grey and silver embroidery. The design was abstract, and not recognizably anything the gathering could associate with. Darrian culture was rare in the Outrim Void.
The Aslan stepped onto the dais, and slowly turned, scanning the people around her. She spoke clearly, but softly. Not at all like a typical Aslan. Her arms spread wide with palms upward.
"Well. I was not expecting this many people today. I thank you all for coming to this unveiling, and truly appreciate your attendance.” The words were pleasant to hear, subtly song-like. Her hands were drawn in and folded together over her heart. “I am the artist, Kteaa Aoweh, from the Mire system in the Darrian Confederation. I was commissioned to produce a sculpture by the station administration, specifically the Art and Culture Committee. My thanks to them for their interest and patronization of Darrian sculpture." Kteaa’s left hand extended out to a few people standing at the edge of the dias, most were recognized by the gathering as key members of the station administration.
"Today, the dais is not enclosed,” Kteaa indicated the stand at the middle of the dias with one hand and gestured with the other an open-palmed pushing motion. “And I am closer to the pedestal than would be wise, when the sculpture is active.” One hand extended upward toward the ceiling above the dias, the other toward the stand at the center of the dias. “After the presentation, there will be a clear shroud over the dais to protect the environment, and keep people safe. Those present will be shown that the installation is not strictly light and sound.” Kteaa’s fingers fluttered and her hands flowed around her. “There are true flames involved. For that demonstration, I will interact with the sculpture in a manner not to be emulated by those not intimately familiar with flame sculptures."
Kteaa continued in her sing-song voice, hands flowing and moving to emphasize her words and indicate things around her that were pertinent to the topic. As Kteaa’s feet did not move much, the song-like words and expressive hand gestures were not, quite, a dance. "To start, I will initiate the sculpture in stages. First the inner pillar of flames, and then the outer. I will also start the sculpture in the testing and diagnostic mode, which is one-third operating size. For full operation, the clear shroud will have to be in place. Again, both for safety and environmental considerations. The committee did specify that the sculpture not be too extravagant in colors, this to keep the filtration and de-toxification of gasses to a minimum. Therefore, this sculpture will appear with only hydrocarbon fuel as the medium, and have minimal requirements for recirculation."
"Let us begin." Kteaa stepped down off the dais, and produced a small remote with a flourish. With a few taps using dancing fingers, a flame appeared just above the circular stand, and expanded to a meter in height. It was yellow and orange, but the flame was bent into a very tight spiral. It appeared to be a thin bar, wreathed in flames, not a broad petal of fire. Then, another spiral of flame joined it, and another. The spirals intertwined, and formed branches and tufts as they intermingled, but they didn't blend or join. Each flame was slightly different in hue and color, and began to ripple and dance. The nearer spectators started to feel a gentle warmth. Kteaa signaled to someone standing near, and that person handed Kteaa a sheet of paper.
"What I am about to do, is not recommended. However, I wish to demonstrate that this sculpture is not just light and sound. There is actual fire involved. To get the flames to conform to a specific shape takes the manipulation of gravity and the environment around the flames. There are copies of Darrian flame sculptures in circulation, but these are relatively safe, as they are holograms. It is easy to tell these copies from real sculptures, as they don't need fuel, only power. Some copies do come with heaters, but would not truly burn anything, without deliberate maladjustment."
Kteaa took the sheet of paper and stepped back up on the dais. She carefully pushed the paper, edgewise, towards the sculpture, gently blowing over the top of the sheet. She touched the sheet to a tuft of flame, and quickly pulled the sheet back. The gentle breath blew out the flames on the edge of the paper, and Kteaa stepped back off the dais. Smoke trailed lightly from the edge of the crescent now burnt into the edge of the paper. Kteaa then exchanged the small paper for a very large sheet of paper and stepped back onto the dais. She then held the sheet open and passed the sheet high over the top of the flames, circling the entire dais.
"What I am doing now, is showing you all that there aren't any hidden lasers in the dais to burn the paper. Again, this is not advisable, but for demonstration purposes only. As I move the paper sheet, you can see the far edge begin to brown from the heat rising from the flames." Kteaa stepped off the dais, and turned to another person.
"Commissioner, would you please take the sheet and examine it?"
A station administrator, the head of the Art and Culture Committee, stepped forward to take the sheet. It wasn't burnt, but it was noticeably browned on one edge, and crisper than the rest of the sheet.
"No laser holes, Kteaa."
Kteaa smiled and then handed the remote to the Commissioner.
"Commissioner, would you be so kind as to lower the shroud into place."
The commissioner took the remote, and pressed a button. A clear cylinder descended from the ceiling and settled around the dais. Then, the commissioner looked around the room.
"Guests and citizens. We are the first station in the Outrim Void to offer to the public a wonder of high technology and beauty. I have seen this installation as it was being fine tuned, and it will be something to marvel at. Let me introduce you to ‘the Flame of Art’."
The commissioner then pointed the remote with a flourish and tapped a button. The sculpture leapt to full size, mostly filling the height of the dais, keeping to the width of the circular stand in the center of the shroud. The gathering ooh'ed and ahh'ed. The flames were deep red, dark orange to yellow white, and the colors flowed around each other. The entire sculpture slowly rotated, each spiral of flame keeping position relative to each other, not blending the colors. It was hard to tell, but it wasn't certain if the stand rotated, or just the flames. In truth, the dais and stand were stationary.
The commissioner and Kteaa faced each other and grasped hands.
"Kteaa. Absolutely marvelous. The station and all who see this will be amazed. Thank you very much for helping our station make history."
"Commissioner. Thank you for letting me practice my art, and share it."
They both turned to the sculpture to admire it, and basked in the glow, not only in the warmth and light of the sculpture, but to the applause of the gathering.
