A device for generating lighting patterns on a target surface, the device comprising: at least two lighting elements; a first fixed common light modulation element positioned such that light from each of the at least two lighting elements passes through the first fixed common light modulation element; and a controller having outputs coupled to the at least two lighting elements and configured to separately vary an intensity of light produced by each of the at least two lighting elements such that lighting patterns on the target surface produced by the light from each of the at least two lighting elements passing through the first fixed common light modulation element simulate motion, thereby creating an illusion of motion on the target surface, wherein the controller is configured to vary the intensity of the at least two lighting elements according to a predetermined control function, with the predetermined control function applied to one of the at least two lighting elements being out of phase with the predetermined control function applied to another of the at least two lighting elements, wherein the at least two lighting elements form a first group, wherein the device comprises at least two additional lighting elements, each additional lighting element being configured to output light, the at least two additional lighting elements forming a second group, and wherein the controller is also configured to separately vary an intensity of the light produced by each of the at least two additional lighting elements such that lighting patterns on the target surface produced by the light from each of the at least two additional lighting elements passing through the first fixed common light modulation element simulate motion, wherein division of the at least two lighting elements and the at least two additional lighting elements into the first group and the second group is configured to be dynamic, with the at least two lighting elements and the at least two additional lighting elements being randomly assigned to different groups of the first group and the second group at certain intervals. at least two lighting elements; a first fixed common light modulation element positioned such that light from each of the at least two lighting elements passes through the first fixed common light modulation element; and a controller having outputs coupled to the at least two lighting elements and configured to separately vary an intensity of light produced by each of the at least two lighting elements such that lighting patterns on the target surface produced by the light from each of the at least two lighting elements passing through the first fixed common light modulation element simulate motion, thereby creating an illusion of motion on the target surface, wherein the controller is configured to vary the intensity of the at least two lighting elements according to a predetermined control function, with the predetermined control function applied to one of the at least two lighting elements being out of phase with the predetermined control function applied to another of the at least two lighting elements, wherein the at least two lighting elements form a first group, wherein the device comprises at least two additional lighting elements, each additional lighting element being configured to output light, the at least two additional lighting elements forming a second group, and wherein the controller is also configured to separately vary an intensity of the light produced by each of the at least two additional lighting elements such that lighting patterns on the target surface produced by the light from each of the at least two additional lighting elements passing through the first fixed common light modulation element simulate motion, wherein division of the at least two lighting elements and the at least two additional lighting elements into the first group and the second group is configured to be dynamic, with the at least two lighting elements and the at least two additional lighting elements being randomly assigned to different groups of the first group and the second group at certain intervals.