kinetic rain

part 2 of 2

 

Process

Kinetic Rain was created over a span of 20 months. A team of artists, programmers and engineers collaborated on its development. After analyzing the qualities of the available space, the piece was conceptualized. The initial idea was to create a kinetic sculpture made of metal blades that combine to form a continuously undulating wave. This concept was discarded in favor of a three-dimensional matrix of droplets that can be choreographed to express abstract to more concrete shapes and whose beauty and almost mystical harmony would captivate people’s attention. After a prototype was tested, the choreography was computationally designed. The 16 sequences through which Kinetic Rain moves were developed as a kind of non-linear story around the theme of flying. As one of the last steps in the process, copper-plated lightweight aluminum was chosen as material for the drops. With their polished copper surface the droplets’ glisten in the ambient light. In addition, the surrounding space is mirrored in each droplet, including everybody watching it. This multiplication of space and oneself however becomes visible only when standing very close to the installation, thus creating another fascinating experience. A video on the making-of can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4-AUVBuZ-4&feature=youtu.be

 

Additional Info

Kinetic Rain’s incredible popularity has found expression in 1.1 million views of its videos on Vimeo and Youtube up to today, and through being selected as “Staff Pick” on Vimeo. The piece’s appeal was reemphasized in November 2013, when a young woman climbed onto the safety net under the installation in order to pick some droplets. A news report on this hazardous action can be found here: sg.news.yahoo.com/woman-shown-grabbing-at-kinetic-rain-in...

 

Source: www.codaworx.com/project/kinetic-rain-changi-airport-grou...

 

see previous: www.flickr.com/photos/leonghong/35661177941/

 

 

 

Done