kinetic – TwistedSifter

Strandbeests: The Kinetic Beach Walkers Powered by the Wind

Theo Jansen’s beach animals are incredible

Made from thin PVC tubing, sails, and an untold number of zip ties; Theo Jansen’s STRANDBEESTS (Dutch for ‘beach animals’) have been conjuring awe and wonder for the last few decades.

Jansen’s incredible creatures have travelled to beaches around the world and their complex and mesmerizing movements are based on an algorithm he designed. According to The New York Times:

Adept at both drawing and math, Jansen put in seven years at Delft University of Technology on the physics track. But then he realized that he was never going to be happy ‘’working as a robot for Philips electronics,’’ and thereafter he gave himself over completely to the more ‘’hippieish’’ pursuits of music-making and painting that had been calling out to him all the while.

Jansen’s beach animals will appear next in Okinawa, Japan from October 3 – November 11, 2017. If you would like to learn more about how the creatures work be sure to check out STRANDBEEST.COM. Below you will find photos and videos of Jansen’s amazing creations.

Strandbeest.com

LEGO Sisyphus Pushes Boulder for Eternity

Jason Allemann of JK Brickworks built and designed this amazing kinetic LEGO sculpture of Sisyphus, a character from Greek mythology.

Jason Allemann of JK Brickworks built and designed this amazing kinetic LEGO sculpture of Sisyphus, a character from Greek mythology that was ‘punished for his self-aggrandizing craftiness and deceitfulness by being forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, repeating this action for eternity.’

The mechanical design was based on a Disney Research video released in 2013. On the JK Brickworks website, Allemann provides additional details about the build along with instructions if you want to make your own!

Be sure to check out the embedded video below to see the kinetic sculpture in action.

[via JK Brickworks]

Visit JK Brickworks for Building Instructions and More!

Meta Wall Clock Turns Analog Clock Hands Into Digital-Like Display

‘A million times‘ is a kinetic sculpture that uses hundreds of small wall clocks to create a ‘meta-clock’ with a digital-like display.

‘A million times‘ is a kinetic sculpture that uses hundreds of small wall clocks to create a ‘meta-clock’ that displays the time using the hours and minutes hands of each clock in a digital-like display. The installation project was created by Humans Since 1982, a design studio based in Stockholm, Sweden.

The original version consisted of 288 clocks however the studio has designed smaller versions in various shapes and sizes as well as a portrait version. Below you can find photos and videos of ‘A Million Times’ in action. For more from Humans since 1982, check out their work at the profiles below.

HUMANS SINCE 1982
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

HUMANS SINCE 1982
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

HUMANS SINCE 1982
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

HUMANS SINCE 1982
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

HUMANS SINCE 1982
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

HUMANS SINCE 1982
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

HUMANS SINCE 1982

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

HUMANS SINCE 1982
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

HUMANS SINCE 1982
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

HUMANS SINCE 1982
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

HUMANS SINCE 1982
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

HUMANS SINCE 1982
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

HUMANS SINCE 1982
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photograph by Tim Meier

This Steampunk Bar in Romania is Filled with Kinetic Sculptures

6th Sense Interiors recently completed an amazing steampunk-themed bar in Cluj, Romania that features a number of moving kinetic sculptures.

Alexandru Tohotan and Zoltan Zelenyak of 6th Sense Interiors recently completed an incredible steampunk-themed bar in Cluj, Romania that features a number of moving kinetic sculptures.

After two years of work, Enigma Cafe (address Iuliu Maniu, Nr 12) is open for business and patrons can expect to find a number of artworks in constant motion from light and ceiling fixtures to gigantic wall clocks.

At the heart of the bar—seemingly powering everything—is a Giger-inspired robot on a bike, slowly pedalling while all of the moving parts around the interior move.

For more information visit 6sense.ro. You can also find them on Facebook and check out many more of their fantastic interior design projects.

Enigma Cafe by 6th Sense Interiors

Kinetic Wind-Powered Sculptures by Anthony Howe

Anthony Howe is an American artist that has been making suspended and freestanding kinetic sculptures for the last 17 years. Howe’s artwork is designed to respond to the exterior natural environment of wind and light.

In his artist statement, Howe explains:

“I attempt, with an economy of means, to construct objects whose visual references range from lo-tech sci-fi paraphernalia to microbiological or astronomical models.

Utilizing primarily stainless steel armatures that are driven either by hammered curvilinear shapes or flat fiberglass covered discs, I hope the pieces assume a spare, linear elegance when conditions are still, mutating to raucous animation when the wind picks up.

Multiple axis finely balanced forms, both symmetrical and asymmetrical, conspire to create a visually satisfying three-dimensional harmony. Interior pieces include suspended gear motor and air driven wire armatures stretched with fiberglass, similar wall mounted pieces, as well as glass assemblages.”

You can find many more examples of Howe’s fascinating work on his official website HOWEART.NET. Below you will find a small sample of the Sifter’s personal favourites. I also created animated gifs and embedded videos to demonstrate the movement and light each sculpture embraces.

[via Colossal]