Tag Archives: kinetic sculpture

Clam-shaped kinetic sound sculptures sing of the quality of water

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We’ve thankfully become more aware of the quality of our waters, especially with the increase of pollution or drastic changes in the chemical composition of rivers, lakes, and seas. We now have sophisticated equipment and software to monitor such properties, but it might come as a surprise that Mother Nature has her own way of detecting abnormalities in water. Clams, known as nature’s filter feeders, immediately react to sudden changes in water quality, sometimes even faster than scientific equipment.

Taking inspiration from one of nature’s wonder workers, this art installation turns water quality from an incorporeal idea into a tangible representation. Rather than just clamming up, these kinetic sculptures create an eerie melody, as if giving voice to the pain and woes of the water. It creates a surreal yet beautiful manifestation of water quality in a way that you can see and hear beyond just figures and graphs.

Designer: Marco Barotti

Clams aren’t able to filter out toxins (which they turn into pearls), so they would immediately shut close when they detect pollution in the water. Their reaction is sometimes faster than sensors and computers that still have to analyze the data from water samples, though, of course, they won’t be as accurate or specific. This interesting behavior, however, became the inspiration for this kinetic sculpture that, rather than just detecting water quality, translates the data into something just as interesting.

“Clams” is a collection of, well, translucent clam-like objects that have speakers inside. The clams are connected to a sensor that tests the quality of the water in the only way that humans can. Changes in the water quality are translated into sounds that shift over time, creating the semblance of eerie music. The vibrations from the speaker also cause the clamshell to go up and down, making it look like the clams are singing.

The shells themselves are made from recycled waste plastic, adding to the sustainability message of the sculptures. Although the shape of these man-made clams is quite simple, the otherworldly soundscape it produces is quite unique and memorable. It also creates an interesting bridge between media art, data sonification, and environmental awareness, translating intangible concepts and figures into something humans can better appreciate and understand.

The post Clam-shaped kinetic sound sculptures sing of the quality of water first appeared on Yanko Design.

Unique ‘Minimal Kinetic Clock’ uses moving 3D-printed parts to tell time through light and shadow

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Let’s face it, that thumbnail probably brought you here. Outwardly, the Minimal Kinetic Clock is just a flat piece of white plastic, but thanks to a few moving parts, it assumes a three-dimensional shape that tells the time. Strategically place it in an area with dramatic lighting and the time stands out through how the clock captures highlights and casts shadows.

The project comes courtesy YouTuber Lukas Deem, who meticulously builds the clock from scratch using bespoke 3D-printed parts, an Arduino Mega SoC, and a handful of motors and sensors (while graciously documenting the process for all of us to see. Lukas walks the viewers through the whole procedure, which took multiple iterations and fixes to put together, even detailing out a special stand he made for the clock once it was up and running. The final result looks gorgeous, and I can only imagine how wonderful it would look if Lukas mounted a stretchy white cloth on the front, allowing the parts to push through to create the shape of every number. If you’re reading this, Lukas… give it a shot!

Designer: Lukas Deem (originally made by Jacky Mok)

Lukas embarked on this venture with a clear goal: to build a clean, minimalistic kinetic clock that elevates the concept of timekeeping into kinetic art. The choice of materials was crucial to this endeavor. The project required two power supplies to ensure all components received adequate energy, white Hatchbox filament for its optimal quality for 3D printing, an off-brand Arduino Mega (from Elegoo), a sensor shield for the electronics, and 30 budget-friendly servos to bring the kinetic aspect to life. A real-time clock (RTC) module was also essential for maintaining accurate time.

The 3D printing process alone was a marathon, consuming approximately 85 hours, excluding the time spent on test prints and correcting mistakes. This phase underscored the meticulous attention to detail and patience required for such an intricate project.

However, the assembly phase presented its own set of challenges. Each of the 30 servos underwent rigorous testing for functionality, with a critical step involving the calibration of these components to ensure the clock’s precise movement. One significant hurdle was the project’s power supply system. The challenge of efficiently powering both the Arduino and the sensor shield without resorting to an unwieldy setup led to a compromise: using two power plugs, a solution that, while not ideal, was necessary under the constraints of time and resources.

Design refinements were also an integral part of the process. The creator focused on cable management, using zip ties to maintain a neat appearance, and developed a new base design to enhance the clock’s stability and aesthetic appeal. These improvements aimed at making the clock not just a functional piece but also a polished work of art worthy of display.

That being said, there was definitely room for improvement. Lukas pointed out that the servo motors in the clock weren’t particularly quiet, which meant this clock was a LOT noisier than your traditional ticking clock. However, it would do rather well in an open space like a living room, as opposed to being by your bedside or study table. Assembling the clock using hot glue also seemed to be a rather poor idea, given how it prevents you from disassembling/repairing/upgrading your clock after it’s built.

Lukas, however, isn’t the original creator of the clock. He credits the original design to Jacky Mok, who goes by the username ‘alstroemeria’ on Instructables. You can check out Jacky’s fully detailed build page on the Instructables website if you want to build your own Minimalist Kinetic Clock.

The post Unique ‘Minimal Kinetic Clock’ uses moving 3D-printed parts to tell time through light and shadow first appeared on Yanko Design.

Snowglobes belong in the 1990s. This kinetic disc uses ferrofluids to create beautiful liquid patterns instead.

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Rather mystically named the Cosmic Eye, this futuristic relative of the snowglobe comes in the shape of a hand-held disc with a clear liquid on the inside and suspended magnetic particles. Tilt, turn, or flip the disc and the particles go crazy, creating incredibly beautiful randomized fluid patterns that look like you’re staring at the birth of the universe.

Designer: Robert Spillner

Click Here to Buy Now: $45. Hurry, for a limited time only.

Designed by Robert Spillner as a modern handheld kinetic sculpture, the Cosmic Eye captures the addictive, attractive essence of products like the snowglobe, the fidget spinner, and the lava lamp. It features a hermetically sealed disc with a special liquid suspended with fine magnetic particles. The particles and liquid (a formulation developed by Spillner over years of research and experimentation) have a satin texture which helps create fluid designs as the particles move and dance around inside the liquid, almost like watching ocean currents and clouds on planet Earth!

Roughly the size of a hockey puck, the Cosmic Eye measures 4-inches wide and comes with a Polycarbonate exterior that makes it robust and damage-resistant. A large transparent window on the front lets you observe the fluid as it mystically moves around, and the opaque rim of the Cosmic Eye comes with 3 prongs that help agitate the inner liquid as you move them around.

The particles are magnetic too and can be manipulated by tiny magnets, making the interaction all the more enjoyable… and when all’s said and done, the Cosmic Eye can rest on its nifty aluminum desk stand, giving you a uniquely enjoyable fidget toy that, just like the universe, will never cease to amaze you!

If you like snowglobes but you happen to share a fascination for the cosmos too, you can grab the Cosmic Eye for $45. However, if you fancy yourself a bit of an art collector, the futuristic fidget disc comes in an installation-sized special edition called “Inverted Space”, measuring a stunning 32.7-inches in diameter (945mm), with a space black or shimmering golden liquid on the inside!

Click Here to Buy Now: $45. Hurry, for a limited time only. Raised over $35,000.

This LEGO PACMAN kinetic sculpture actually opens and closes its mouth when you crank the lever!

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With over 1,000 supporters, the Pac-Man kinetic sculpture is on the path to being picked up by the LEGO team and turned into a buyable/buildable kit.

The LEGO IDEAS forum is perhaps one of the most outstanding examples of a well-functioning meritocracy. The forum exists for LEGO master-builders to upload and showcase their custom-made design ideas, while the collective LEGO community votes for their favorite designs. As the votes collect over time, the highest-ranking designs get a chance to be produced into actual on-shelf kits that everyone can buy. Today’s design comes courtesy master-builder and retro-gaming-fan LiteBricks. Titled the “Pac-Man Moving Display”, LiteBricks’ little kinetic sculpture is more than just a standalone static toy… it actually moves! With a rotating crank-lever on the side (sort of like a jack-in-the-box) the Pac-Man Moving Display is a fun little interactive toy that features the familiar pill-munching spherical character along with 4 ghosts. Rotate the lever on the side and the ghosts bob up and down, while Pac-Man’s mouth moves vertically too, just like in the videogame!

Designer: LiteBricks

LiteBricks’ design-idea comprises a total 1,603 LEGO pieces, which include the Pac-Man figure, the red/pink/blue/orange ghosts, 4 blue ghosts, 4 ghost eyes, 3 pellets, 1 power pellet, the display stand, the crank-turning mechanism, and 5 figure supports. The manual crank on the side of the stand moves Pac-Man’s mouth and alternates the up and down movement for any 4 adjacent figures – which means you can build out your display in a variety of styles and formats, using any of the characters. Scroll below to see GIFs of LiteBricks’ concept in action and I dare you to not make the WOCKA-WOCKA sound as you see them move!

You can click here to vote for the “Pac-Man Moving Display” idea on the LEGO IDEAS forum. It needs a total of 10,000 votes to go from concept to reality, and the voting is free and open to all.

Kinetic chandelier “blossoms” open like a pine-cone to fill your room with beams of light

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Chandeliers, unlike lamps, serve an important dual purpose. Their job isn’t just to fill a room with light, it’s to form a mesmeric illuminated art-piece often located in the center of a hall for people to admire. The Core chandelier by Hsin Lee does it pretty well, with a design inspired by the appearance and the ‘maturing’ of a pine cone. Multiple copper leaves on the Core chandelier are connected to a central mechanism that gets the chandelier to open up, filling the room with soft beams of light that dance around as the Core opens and shuts. The shimmering copper leaves create their own shimmering reflections too, turning the chandelier into an instant attraction that is difficult to take your eyes off of.

The Core currently sits in Kawabata Intcraft, an 84-year-old Japanese-style art club. It hangs on a high ceiling directly above the spiral staircase, prompting the viewer to look at it as they climb up. Its gradual opening and closing action also brings the space to life, making it look as if it’s breathing.

The kinetic sculpture relies on multiple moving parts assembled together. Designed to be just about as intricate as an umbrella, the Core’s insides sit within its copper shell, and aren’t immediately visible to the viewer. They work almost in the background as the copper petals sit around them like an exoskeleton, and the moving petals cast a kaleidoscope of light beams and fragments, keeping the eye occupied. Core is made out of 87 unique brass pieces, relying heavily on precise mechanical engineering. Each part is detailed crafted in collaboration with a self-made CNC machine to bring the experience to life.

“The purpose of this project is to study the relationship between artistic sculpture and historical building”, says designer Hsin Lee. After learning that instead of demolishing the 84-year old Kawabata Intcraft building (which was previously a police station), it was in fact, being preserved as an art club, Lee “hoped to bring it back to life in an artistic way. The concept and name Core was born accordingly, in the shape of a pine cone to resembles eternity”.

The Core kinetic chandelier is a Bronze Winner of the A’ Design Award for the year 2021.

Designer: Hsin Lee

This tabletop device’s kinetic sand paintings are the perfect blend of art and algorithm

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If you’ve heard of Mandalas, let me introduce you to SANDSARA…! This tabletop kinetic sculpture works with sand as its raw material, using a single ball-bearing to make continuous hypnotic mandala patterns to enchant its viewers.

Meet the SANDSARA, a clever portmanteau of the words sand – the material, and Samsara – the Sanskrit word for the world and its infinite cycle of life-and-death… The SANDSARA, in its poetic spirit, is a tabletop kinetic sculpture that charts the infinite journey of a metal ball as it makes its way across the SANDSARA’s sand-filled surface. While the ball performs its repetitive choreography, it creates 3D patterns by digging into the sand, turning its movement into art. You can either stop to commend the metal ball as it slowly but surely completes its journey, or look at the bigger picture and admire its grand artwork, which it periodically erases to create new works of art.

This horizontal self-drawing kaleidoscope comes with a bed of fine, white sand, which acts as a canvas for a metal ball-bearing, operated by a magnet underneath the surface. The entire dynamic installation is encased in a black walnut and birchwood outer case, which comes in a classic circular frame, as well as an unusual star-shaped frame. As beautiful as its upper surface is, SANDSARA is equally complex under the hood, with a motorized two-arm linkage and magnet that does a remarkable job of guiding the ball above.

This unique system allows the SANDSARA to be made in any shape possible without compromising on its functionality. The kinetic sculpture comes with an iOS and Android app that lets you program it, accessing an ever-increasing library of hypnotic patterns and sequences. You can feed your own polar or SVG patterns into it too, allowing you to customize it to make images, logos, text, or patterns of your own making. Measuring not more than the size of a 15-inch laptop, and weighing 5.5lbs, the SANDSARA makes for a great addition to domestic spaces as well as retail ones, for its artistic, meditative quality. Its abstract symbolism and spiritual appeal literally makes it a great ‘meaningful’ gift too!

There’s an undeniable meditative quality about the SANDSARA and how it slowly and patiently completes a pattern, only to erase it and move onto the next. I’ll admit us humans can surely learn a lesson from this persevering ball-bearing that creates something beautiful without attachment. It’s almost Buddhist in its own way, as it meditatively goes about its path, creating Mandalas while never looking behind and only living in the moment! That spirituality sometimes unintentionally spills into the viewer. Whether you’re looking at the video of the SANDSARA in action, or admiring it in real life, it’s the kind of thing you can keep watching and never get tired of. It’s awe-inspiring, stress-relieving, and simply humbling as you stare at the single ball-bearing unquestioningly creating beautiful pieces of art in sand that come and go just like waves on a tranquil beach!

Designer: Ed Cano

Click Here to Buy Now: $350 $499 ($150 off). Hurry, only 2/15 left! Raised over $130,000.

SANDSARA – The Kinetic Sculpture that Draws Infinite Patterns on Sand

The SANDSARA is a no-compromise, affordable art piece that would allow anyone to enjoy a mesmerizing kinetic sand sculpture at home.

Sometimes, it feels like every single second of our lives is filled up with something to do. For millennia, Eastern philosophies have known of the benefits and importance of the simple act of doing nothing, even if it’s just for a few minutes at a time.

There is something about SANDSARA that connects to a very primal and deep part of our brains. Maybe it’s the perpetually changing patterns drawn in a bed of very fine sand, maybe it’s the surprising motion of the sphere that appears to move by magic, or maybe is knowing that every time you look at it, the pattern will be unique and soon will be gone forever.

Concept of SANDSARA

The name SANDSARA is a reference to Samsara, a concept essential to many Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism. It is meant to represent the infinite cycle in which everything is born, lives, dies, and is reborn.

It implies all of our actions are connected with the universe. All the things that have happened before have brought us to the place we are standing right now. And every action we do today will affect everything else in the future. Everything is chained in a never-ending cycle.

Seeing the sequence of new patterns forming while erasing the previous ones, made us think of this beautiful concept that fits perfectly with our purpose of creating an experience that lets you take a break, reflect and restart.

Innovative Mechanism

Thanks to the innovative mechanism, SANDSARA is able to move the sphere right into the very edge, thus allowing it to draw large paths that fill 100% of the sand bed. With all of that wasted space gone, they focused on creating an elegant form that immediately catches the attention of everyone who enters the room.

Infinite artworks in one single object. Creating new paths for SANDSARA is incredibly simple. Not only will you be able to choose from over 100 patterns from our growing library, but building your own patterns is very easy, as it understands X and Y coordinates.

Experiment with motion. Create new trajectories. Their iOS and Android app also allow you to download new patterns or translate existing polar or .svg ones, which means you will be able to load pretty much any path you want. The possibilities really are endless.

Living art. Like a new kind of life form creating unique and surprising patterns, always evolving.

The Frame

The team designed a frame that outlines the sand patterns and gives a fine touch without stealing your attention. The 45° chamfer in the edges is a subtle detail that merges the wooden fame with the sand bed into one.

Crafted from black walnut and birch because of their elegant appearance and durability, SANDSARA is machined out of solid wood, and hand-finished with an ultra-thin layer of natural wax to protect it and make the wood grain pop. It is soft to the touch and has a sleek matte appearance.

The Collection

The Halo. The design is sober and timeless. It blends in perfectly in any room, the complex sand patterns are contrasted with the subtle circular shape.

The Stelle. Its form is meant to be the center of attention in any space. The design is eye-catching and it immediately becomes a conversation piece. The sand patterns precisely delineate the six-pointed star shape for an extra dose of wonder.

Note: All paths are compatible with both The Halo and The Stelle out of the box, the internal software features a shape avoidance feature that makes sure paths fill out 100% of the sand bed of each shape.

The Technical Details

– The main goal was to keep the overall size of SANDSARA as small as possible while maintaining a larger surface for sand patterns.
– To achieve this, the team developed their own custom mechanism based on a SCARA design.
– Compared to cartesian or polar designs, SCARA provides unique advantages to maximize the usable area and keep the overall footprint small. This allows us to create The Stelle, which would be impossible using other kinds of mechanisms.
– While using SCARA provided additional challenges in the logic and software, as the X and Y positions needed to be solved using inverse kinematics, it was a challenge the team enjoyed and was quite worth it.

The final result is a streamlined piece of art that wastes no space and has a large sand bed, allowing the patterns to go right into the edge of the frame.

Click Here to Buy Now: $350 $499 ($150 off). Hurry, only 2/15 left! Raised over $130,000.

Kinetic Sculpture Made of LEGO Bricks Makes Electronic Tunes

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Play House LEGO Automaton

This LEGO automaton is capable of making electronic music, which definitely is not something you get to see every day.

Electronic music is near the bottom of the list when it comes to my favorite music genres. Despite that, I can recognize genius when I see it, and this LEGO automaton is the work of one. Kinetic sculptures already are very impressive, but building one out of LEGO bricks and enabling it to create electronic music is taking things to a whole new level.

Alex Allmont, the inventor of this LEGO kinetic sculpture, works as a full-time coder and part-time arts PhD in improvisation with polyrhythm and phased rhythms. Obviously, he also is a fan of LEGO bricks and a builder, and the Play House project is a firm proof of that.

The inventor explained on Make how the Play House came to be: “For the past few years I have been experimenting with rhythm, including developing a number of Lego musical machines. For years I have been using Lego to prototype ideas, but I had started to use it as a material to put work in context. In particular, my more recent ideas work on getting lost in a youthful creative process whilst riffing off more mature themes, structures and sounds. My proposal was to develop Play House, an automaton that would churn out mesmerizing acid house — not the white-gloves-and-whistles sort of acid house, but the more spatial stuff, inspired by artists like Plastikman and Basic Channel. The plan was to play it out loud on speakers and draw the audience in to a room where they could explore the minutiae of the musical and mechanical structures.”

Furthermore, Allmont expressed his enthusiasm regarding this project, even though not everything went as planned: “In the end, the project did run over, which was stressful but a good push to get it in for the show. The stress wasn’t so bad that it wasn’t fun and the push helped me realize where I had made bad estimates. In this case I knew the deadline was tight so I shouldn’t have been so ambitious with the R&D. However, I wanted to impress, so I stretched myself too far. An unexpected bonus from this project was how much I zoned into the playlists I was putting together for research; this opened up something new musically that has changed how I write music and given me a fresh view on some existing ideas. As a wrap up, I’m working on a playlist for OCM and some new tracks for an E.P.: http://soundcloud.com/alexallmont/mind-play-house.”

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Robocoach automaton, and Hammer vs Nail automata.

Face Forward: The Expressiveness Abundant Kinetic Sculpture

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If we want to express our feelings about something while communicating, face mimicry is probably the best option we have. The following kinetic sculpture, called Face Forward, is a perfect example of that. Christian Ristow, the creator of this kinetic sculpture, has a vast experience in building robots, as well as ...
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