about

ZITOFOS is a research initiative to explore the spatial possibilities of natural and artificial light in documenting, altering, and mainly generating conditions of/for the sensorial experience of the (wo)man in the environment. While observing phenomena in northern countries like luck of vitamin D, depression, women’s cycle patterns irregularities, work separation from exterior conditions, the research aims to explore light’s integral role in space by intervening in architectural and art installations.

ZITOFOS seeks for the light definition in philosophical terms, by associating it with energy and the survival and by examining a possible reversion of the recorded transition from necessity (ancient times) to a surplus (in our era). Light as an energy producer, may be eventually a go-back to the core response to the request for sustainability. Light in relationship to energy is examined in parallel to slow food movement, where food also needs to be repositioned between the survival and the surplus. Taste previously considered as a protective sense from poison and other dangers (example: bitters) in comparison to current loss of taste coming along with processed food and other conditions, is an illustrative example to examine light and food linked to energy, sustainability and other essential needs. This investigation will be examined through the lens of sociobiology, neuroscience, and anthropology disciplines too.

ZITOFOS investigates spatial light in the following three stages, harvest, transform, and generate, by looking into the creation of Light Farms and ways to harvest light, habitus aspect of light as it transfers spatially or/ and within our bodies, and generating objects/ spatial elements, that will alter the light (atmo) spheres into ephemeral places through their amphibious character/ structure. While the research does not necessarily solve the problems addressed, it aims to make people aware about affects of light on bodies and space. Having as a departure point, the art, the research aims to reveal or emphasize the essential capacity of light in the built environment and well-being of people.

ZITOFOS is an inventive word by george toloudis [gtroza]. It is composed by the three parts zi-, -to-, and -fos (ζει, το, φως) or by the two parts zito-, and -fos (ζήτω/ ζητώ, φως) that when pronounced in Greek in a phrase mean Lives The Light, and Hooray! Light, or I ask light respectively.

This webpage will be used as a research sketchbook for the work titled ZITOFOS. All work published here belongs to Zenovia Toloudi unless mentioned. For more info contact zenovia [at] gmail [dot] com.