Pixelsumo is the blog of
Chris O'Shea, an artist and designer based in London.
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Kinetic Sculptures by Conrad Shawcross
Posted November 8th 2006 under Installations, Light, Objects, Sculpture
London based artist Conrad Shawcross creates these fantastic kinetic sculptures that draw inspiration from philosophy and scientific theories.
Shown above is ‘Loop System Quintet‘ (2005):
“Each of the five oak machines in Loop System Quintet - connected by a single drive-shaft - draws a different ‘knot’ of light in space, predetermined by the ratio of the cogs that drive it. These ratios are directly related to formal theories of musical harmony (Harmonics). The resulting light patterns, perceived by the viewer only as the machines rotate, can therefore be regarded as visual transcriptions of musical chords….The circles of energy produced by the lights also relate to string theory, a complex scientific theory stating that matter is comprised of vibrating ’strings’ of energy rather than single, isolated particles”
Created in 2004, ‘Light Perpeptual I‘ (2004) must have been a precursor to the work above.
“Displayed in a darkened gallery, the device works as a giant drawing machine, blasting it’s luminous patterns through the wire grid onto the walls, leaving the viewer seeing spots, like from staring into the sun. Conrad Shawcross isn’t making paintings on canvas, but rather through mechanical invention, he’s imprinting his image directly into the eye”
Further reading & sources above:
In the studio: Conrad Shawcross (Telegraph, 2005)
Conrad Shawcross, sculptor (Guardian, 2006)
Portrait of the artist as a young boffin (Observer, 2005)
BBC Feature
The exhibition ‘No Such Thing As One‘ brings together a body of work that explores ideas concerning time and the essence of matter. On display at the Victoria Miro gallery, east London, until 18th November.
You may also want to visit the Kinetica Museum in Spitalfields to see more moving sculpture artworks.
Comments
(June 25th 2009)
Finally something interesting! that gets us off the wall in this image saturated world. I wish I could see it function but I cannot , I am blind. Inspiring is a very important factor when you create,just look at our history greats, they were inspired and they shared that. I like this site so far from what I hear. I will get my 84 year old, genius inventor father to check this guy out. He makes complicated Machinery. that does his thing, very simular to those painters and sculptors out there stuck in imagery, stone carving away at eternity. I don’t believe you have to crawl before you can walk.