michael candy handcrafts helical kinetic light sculpture
swaying fluorescent tubes suspended from the ceiling of an old warehouse exhibit a creature that floats within the space.
michael candy handcrafts helical kinetic light sculpture
all images courtesy of michael candy
suspended within the walls of an old dockside warehouse in india, a creature waves its long arms upwards and downwards in a hypnotizing fashion. the plywood and metal body articulates 18 fluorescent tubes that radiate waves of light onto the surrounding architecture as they gently move around its spine. the overall effect is anamorphic, where the individual beams move as one, floating above the surface of the ground. completed over the course of one month during the kochi artist in residency program, this describes the work of creative mind michael candy called ‘big dipper.’
video courtesy of michael candy
for the construction, the australia-based artist collaborated with a local metal shop to craft some of the more complex metal components. these intricacies are apparent in the roller chains located along the main axis of the structure that move around the circumference of a steel circle located between every pair of bulbs. their stability is ensured by two zip ties that connect back to the jigsaw-cut wooden modules following the rotation of the central helix mechanism.
from below the constituent parts driving helix become visible
each plywood pattern has been cut by jigsaw and paper templates
individual arms conform to the shape of the central helix.
first set of fluorescent lights attached
nearing completion
the frame before the helix is inserted
view from above
local workshop team lending a hand to shape the helix
the local bearing shop owner
the artist and the workshop team
designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
