Kinesthetic Sculpture

Kinesthetic Sculpture

History

• Three dimensional artworks that possess parts designed to move either by internal mechanism such as motor or by outside force such as wind or light

• First example of kinetic sculpture is credited as The Bicycle by Marcel Duchamp

Marcel Duchamp

Born in Normandy France in 1887 Initially worked in style of post impressionists and then Cubism His painting Nude Descending a Staircase was in Cubist style, but not

the analytical style that locked a subject in place…his painting was “moving”

Not accepted at first, then sparked interest in NY His “readymades” , sculptures created from mass produced

industrialized products, pushed the boundaries of what we considered art

Considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century Literature at the time: Ubu Roi Died in 1968

rotoreliefs: http://www.aqualoop.com/aqua_sound/delia/d_corolles.html

works

Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 2), 1912Marcel Duchamp (French, 1887–1968)Oil on canvas

Marcel Duchamp, "Fountain," photo by Alfred Stieglitz

Naum Gabo

*Born in Naum Pevsner in Russia in 1890*Older brother Antione = sculptor*Studied Medicine, Natural History and Engineering*Met Wassily Kandinsky in 1913-4*Moved to Paris & settled with bro*Among artists frequently*War caused him to move to Oslo\*Began creating his constructions at that time*Took the name Naum Gabo*1917-22 moved to Moscow and collaborated upon Realistic

Manifesto:Constructivism philosophy*Moved to Berlin 1922-32: Influenced by Bauhaus artists*Exhibited internationally*Moved to US in 1946: citizen by 1952*Professor in Harvard’s Graduate Architecture program

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/naum-gabo-1137

Kinetic Construction (Standing Wave) 1919-20, replica 1985

Outdoor fountain:http://www.panoramio.com/photo_explorer#view=photo&position=979&with_photo_id=28248320&order=date_desc&user=1166271

Alexander Calder

o Born in 1898o Parents artists: Dad sculptor and mom paintero Art commissions called for frequent travelo Alexander had own art studio regardless starting at age 9o Graduated with engineering degreeo Worked various jobs: engineer for hydraulics/automotive, timekeeper and

fireman for boiler room on shipo During travels with ship off Guatemalan coast, experienced sunrise and

moon scape simultaneously: Huge impact on his life: referred to it ofteno Enrolled as art student at Student Art League in NYC (Premier school for

art that generated numerous famous artists for Modern art movement)o Worked as sketch artist and commissioned to sketch Ringley Bros and

Barnum & Bailey circus for 2 weeks in 1925o Moved to Paris in 1926 and created Cirque Calder: mixed media found

object moveable sculpture manipulated by artist for performances that lasted up to 2 hours (40 years prior to concept of performance art)

o Rep grew and soon had shows internationallyo Friends with Mondrian, Jean Arp and became member of Abstraction-

Creation groupo 1931 created first truly kinetic sculpture: mobile named so by Duchamp

which means motion and motiveo Worked often designing sets for Perfomances especially Martha

Graham=pioneer Modern dance

"Just as one can compose colors, or forms, so one can compose motions."

Works

Hanging mobiles: http://www.calder.org/work/by-category/hanging-mobileStanding mobliles: http://www.calder.org/work/by-category/hanging-mobile

Contemporary artists

Various works

25 experimentalhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqc9BiGsVoo&feature=related

articulated cloud:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=nvkNdlKVP2Y&NR=1Gadget:http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/10/mailable-mechanical-movable-sculptures-for-the-geek-in-your-life/

Sensory sculptureshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=4B0hGyKV9qs

Arthur Ganson: http://www.ted.com/talks/arthur_ganson_makes_moving_sculpture.html

Found object inspiration: how can you move the object with a machine?

Reuben Margolin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dehXioMIKg0

Theo Jansen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcR7U2tuNoY

http://www.arthurganson.com/pages/Sculptures.html

Problem to solve:

How can you create a kinetic sculpture that explores the movement of a natural element in a new way? OR How can you create a kinetic sculpture that explores the movement of an existing subject in a new way?

How to make things move?Gear traincrank4 bar linkage

how to:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4866368_build-simple-machines.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs88aC0k0yI

wave sculpture:http://www.ehow.com/how_8729659_build-kinetic-wave-sculptures.html

formulas

http://www.wintech-winches.com/net_files/mechanical_engineering_formulae.htm

Requirements

*minimum of 3 materials*one material has to be found object*only 20% of the sculpture may be created using a material already constructed for building*must address one of the problems to solve*movement created from hand crank or natural force

Resources

http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/C20th/kineticart.htm

http://www.calder.org/

http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=81631

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/duch/hd_duch.htm

http://www.theartstory.org/movement-kinetic-art.htm