Commissioned by Trilogy Ensemble

Petroleum fireflies draws inspiration from the streams of red and white headlights created by nighttime traffic. With their movement and glow reminiscent of such luminescent creatures, this chamber work serves as a metaphor: despite the rapid pace of modernisation at the disheartening expense of our environment, the presence and beauty of nature will always persist through human design and innovation.

The piece unfolds across three movements - Natural, Transformation, and Mechanical - depicting a fictional journey of a firefly as it evolves from a living wonder of the insect world to a cold, industrialised counterpart.