Spirit of the City
New York, 2018
Steel, Glass, Electronics, Code. 14 x 4 x 3m
Commissioned by Brooklyn-based creative space A/D/O, Spirit of the City and Elements are two manifestations of the same subject that explore the scale difference between the individual and the mass, contrasting our organic nature with the static built environment.
In part, the concept was about the experience of navigating a city in which there is constant movement but juxtaposing this flowing and ever-evolving behaviour with the imposing, rectilinear urban typology that result in habitats that can be playful and pleasurable or disorientating and overwhelming.
Set in the courtyard, Spirit of the City is a modular system of revolving mirrored columns configured as a grid. The combined rotation of the columns is orchestrated to create dynamic compositions of movement, reflection, light and shadow, expressing moods that fluctuate between dormant and hectic, ordered and chaotic. These patterns unfold during a 24-hour cycle that is pre-programmed to reflect the daily activity of New York, based on selected data that reveals levels of human activity in the city, such as energy demand patterns and traffic flow.
Elements is a dynamic sculpture which captures the image of the viewer and reflects it in manifold perspectives, rendering a deconstructed scene that exists in a state of constant transformation. This artwork utilises the same reflective materials and rotary motion to create a more intimate experience, where the viewer’s image dominates the scene against their environment.
