Foolish Flame is a trans-disciplinary installation by Peter Power and Leon Butler merging performance and technology focusing on contentious frontiers of climate change and our inherited traumatic heritage surrounding them. Wandering between worlds is the Foolish Flame, an autonomous representation of the Will-o'-the-wisp myth, animated and trained on contemporary dance movement and cross-cultural traditional dance archives. This apparition traverses the frontiers, creating moments of synchronicity between real and digital realms, symbolising humanity's fragile relationship with nature and serving as an allegory for natural forces responding to environmental disruption. The installation is scored with Uilleann pipes, electronics and voice, encouraging audiences to respect the delicate balance of ecosystems through physical and emotional connection to equally endangered heritage.
Foolish Flame was commissioned and premiered at Ars Electronica Festival 2025 supported by Beta Festival, Culture Ireland, The Digital Hub, Once Off Productions and Project Arts Centre.
A non-interactive sharing of Foolish Flame will take place on the closing weekend of the festival 20-23rd Nov followed by a screening with discussion on 24th Nov in Project Arts Centre.
Credits
Lead Artists: Leon Butler, Peter Power.
Head Creative Technologist: Caillean Finn
Contributing Artist: Aisling Phelan
Contributing Artists: Neonatus
Original Music by Peter Power
Choreographed and performed by: Robyn Byrne
Uilleann Pipe and Voice performed by: Muireann Ní Shé
Peter Power is a transdisciplinary writer, visual artist, composer, sound designer and director from Waterford, Ireland. He holds a degree in biochemistry and a master’s in composition. He is Artistic Director of the award-winning Sparsile Collective, creating post-disciplinary works. He is an Associate Artist of BETA festival and outgoing Artist-in-Residence of Cork Midsummer Festival, National Sculpture Factory and other international residencies.
Leon Butler is an artist working at the intersection of art and technology. His work has been recognised by the Type Directors Club, 100 Archive, Digital Media Awards, and more. Recent projects include Imagined Islands, Dwelling, Performance Surveillance, and Emperor 101. He has shown work nationally and internationally, receiving commissions from Arts Council, European Media Arts Platform, and Science Gallery.
Image credit: Courtesy of the artist