off balance
A playful exploration of physics, highlighting wonder by revealing hidden forces and adding an element of surprise.
off balance .01 extruded aluminium strip, stainless steel ball bearing, mirror ball motor, bicycle spoke, cable tie, stretcher bar and amazon air bag packaging.
balanced precariously on a bag of air, discarded packaging from another Amazon delivery. the irony of Amazon naming themselves after the most famous of rainforests, but how apt as it is also an area wrecked and destroyed by capitalism and commerce, the power grab needs and desires of the West. this Amazonian rain cloud, this airbag, is subject to air pressure. the particles inside becoming more excited when warm. the subtle expanding and collapsing cause the work to become even more precarious.
an extruded aluminium strip creates a gulley with its right angle. the ends are sealed with acetate and a ball bearing can roll freely within. powered by a mirror ball motor and with a bicycle spoke, wedged in with a black plastic cable tie and a small piece of wire, to create an arm. when the arm rotates it reaches the strip so that it rises, suspended on the air bag packaging that sits on a shelf slightly off centre. this fulcrum allows the strip to make a sea-saw action. as the arm rises, the strip rises and the ball bearing rolls to the other end of the strip. when it hits the end, it jumps in the air. by which time the arm has started to make its’ decent. the ball rolls back to where it started at the other end and does a another little hop before returning. and so it continues, back and forth. there is a futility to its action.
the artwork makes its presence known throughout the gallery, with the rolling sound, and with its grating, scraping arm. depending on your perception, the ball makes an irritating and torturous metallic sound; or a soothing hollow one. as it rolls the sound is amplified naturally by the space within the strip. some find watching the movement meditative whilst others might be unnerved as the strip balances precariously, wobbling and threatening to fall. the ball leaps. flying in the air, it adds an additional element of risk, that it might jump right out in front of you. but it is also joyous and playful, and there is an element of humour. when the ball makes it back into the gulley each time and continues on its journey, we might laugh at ourselves in relief, amused that we expressed any concern.
off balance .02 black cord, plumb bob, neodymium magnets, acrylic tubing, stainless steel rod, battery powered mirror ball motor, cable tie
suspended elements hang precariously on a cord from the ceiling. a combination of magnets and metal elements, together with acrylic tubing. at the base is a battery operated small mirrorball motor which has a cable tie attached to its centre. this arm rotates but, as it is made from flexible plastic, it only knocks the tube and doesn’t push it with any real force. apathetic in its nature, it is also easily pushed to the side or bent out of the way as it rotates and nudges the hanging tubing. the suspended line of elements above wobble and sway in response. at eye level is the tip of a plumb bob. this fine sharp pointed tip is attached only by magnetic attraction but it is responsible for holding all the suspended items below. one can be surprised by the fragility of this construction and fearful that it may fall.
at the base the magnet also reacts to the magnetic coil of the motor, creating chaotic movement not directly related to the turning arms. as the arms rotate the tubing can randomly swerve out of its way.
the arm, also mimics the rotating hands on a clock, a constant reminder of the passing of time.
off balance .03 1m long cable ties, steel bar, saloon door swing hinges, wooden batons
fifty 1 metre long cable ties hang, arching downwards as they cascade from a steel bar. the bar is attached to a wooden baton which is in turn attached to the wall with saloon door swing hinges. the cable ties are black and imposing, like whips or eyelashes. hanging, drooping, partially blocking the doorway. the work encourages the visitor to physically engage. one has to brush past to get by. the specially designed hinges allow the artwork to move in the direction of the passerby. as you push through the plastic, the baton springs forcibly back and the bristles audibly jostle and bustle back into place.
off balance .04 rattle magnets, black shelf with interior metal bracket
a shiny black shelf is positioned on the wall so that you can see directly onto it. on its surface rests a pile of bullet shaped rattle or power buzz magnets. written on the wall is the invitation, “play with me”.
these children’s toys encourage the visitor to pick them up and to play. the magnets have a strong pull and as soon as you handle them you can feel their force. they are tactile with their smooth surface and elongated shape. visually, to me, they mimic phases of alignment in liquid crystals, such as the diagram of the nematic phase on the right. many will remember that if you take 2 of the magnets and throw them in the air with a finger width between them, that they will scream, rattle or buzz, hence the many names by which they go by.
the shelf has an internal metal bracket and so the magnets will also spin and rotate when sitting on the shelf.