A quintessential aspect of dreaming is the fluidity of thought that thrives within the subconscious mind. In art, the Surrealists are renowned for capturing this fluidity through bizarre juxtapositions, expressed in both painting and sculpture—such as Salvador Dalí’s iconic melting landscapes. The Surrealist movement sought to blur the line between the rational mind and the dream state, unlocking a new realm of creativity.
The artist’s work, GOLDEN EYE, presented in response to this year’s Lumière theme, “Neon Dreams: Light and Colour,” is inspired by the Surrealist exploration of dream fluidity. The intention is to blur the boundary between reality and the transformative flow of light on Earth, creating an immersive experience where the two coexist and interact. GOLDEN EYE is a large-scale artwork that combines the iconography of the sun with the symbol of the eye. The sculpture’s spherical shape embodies a vision of the magnetosphere, expanding into an ellipsoid that references both Earth and the gravitational pull of the moon, all through the vehicle of sight—the eye. The key connection between the sun and the eye is light, the fundamental force that bridges all life on Earth.
Set at the water’s edge in Trillium Park, GOLDEN EYE comes to life both day and night, offering visitors a unique experience through its dynamic interplay with light.
Tonya Hart is a Canadian artist born in Newfoundland and now based in Toronto. Her artwork is known for its use of light, energy, and magnetism to create a connection with the natural world. Her light-based sculptures vary in scale and aim to evoke the energy found within natural phenomena. Hart’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2018.
