Serenity and The Irregularity
Serenity
On test at home in my garden
The Irregularity
First test on a short test stand
Edition 2 at its new home in Newbury
Inspiration
I can't really claim this as my original idea. I seem to remember seeing something similar somewhere during my life, but I can't remember exactly what it was, or where or when I saw it.
This was also before I had CAD software, so I made a small mock-up from scrap metal to prove the concept would work. Ideas almost always work perfectly in my head, but not always in reality, and I didn't want to spend time and money cutting, welding and fabricating the full sculpture only to discover the design was flawed from the start.
Thankfully, the mock-up proved the concept, giving me the confidence to build the finished sculpture.
Serenity at Home in my garden
CAD
I then came across a free CAD package called FreeCad that had the power to animate, very complicated to use but would prove out my geometry was sound.
FreeCad cad concept animation
In Motion
Both Serenity and The Irregularity have the most serene, mesmerising movement. In fact, I often find myself thinking they look as though they are moving, even when they are perfectly still.
These are also sculptures that improve with age. I originally created The Irregularity to increase the surface area and develop a shape that would catch the wind more effectively. Serenity, however, has taught me something unexpected. As the bearings have naturally worn in over time, it has become even more responsive, now moving gracefully in the gentlest of breezes.
It's one of the things I love most about kinetic sculpture—these pieces continue to evolve long after they've left the workshop, becoming more fluid and expressive with every passing year.
Size
Serenity is 2.55 m x 0.55m x 0.55m
The Irregularity is 2.7m x 0.9m5 x 0.95
FreeCad cad concept animation
People often say to me, "I bet your sculptures scare all the birds away from your garden."
Not at all. I regularly see birds sitting on them, and when the sculpture starts to move because of their weight, they usually just fly off. Occasionally, though, they seem to enjoy the experience, sitting there as the sculpture gently moves beneath them — almost like children enjoying a swing.
Luckily, on one occasion, I happened to have my camera in hand and managed to capture a few photographs and even a bit of video of this unexpected interaction.