About Kinetic Art

Kinetic art began to precipitate as a formal movement in the early 20th century, as art pried itself away from it’s traditional roots in classical oil painting and sculpting in order to explore entirely new concepts. The first kinetic artists were unsung visionaries who’s work would only become truly appreciated for it’s innovation and genius far into their careers. Understanding kinetic art is all about understanding our attempt at to breathing a spark of life into that which is static. Kinetic sculptures may seem simple at an initial glance, however the complex balancing of geometric principles and crafting of intricate shapes is something worthy of being called wizardry. In a way, all kinetic artists are illusionists, because their minimalist forms in motion create untold magic and beauty.

Ivan Black in his studio in Pembrokeshire
Ivan Black in his studio in Pembrokeshire

An Ancient Art Form

To understand the universality of Kinetic Art you must first understand it’s history. Across the ages our ancestors created works of art that relied on the elements – these are some of the earliest iterations of kinetic art before it became a formal movement. As far back as 5000 years ago, early wind chimes and wind sculptures had abstract geometrical forms that were made to interact and coexist with nature, all for the sake of their soothing qualities. Many kinetic sculptures unintentionally express scientific principles due to their creation based on the basic principles of the natural world and geometry, becoming expanded representations of otherwise hidden phenomena. Square Wave carries that tradition on, in being based on the Fibonacci sequence, expressing the sacred and universal bond kinetic sculptures have always had with the natural world.

Nebula Ellipse by Ivan Black
Nebula Ellipse by Ivan Black

A Profound Metamorphosis

Like water into a snowflake or a burgeoning bud into a delicate flower, kinetic sculptures undergo a metamorphosis. Kinetic art is interested in the power of channeled energy to create movement, and with it; fascinating displays of patterns. Unlike static art, this motion reflects the true nature of the world: a constant state of change and movement. This is also what makes sculptures like Square Wave so satisfying. The ability to creatively interact with art (when it’s completed) is rare, usually you observe and appreciate the properties of art without ever being a part of it. Kinetic art is never truly complete! Kinetic art relies on you changing it’s state, turning it into something more than metal or stone by allowing it to morph into something entirely different.

Diorama by Ivan Black. Adobe, Salt Lake City
Diorama by Ivan Black. Adobe, Salt Lake City

Entirely New Dimensions

Going from a static image to a moving object introduces entirely new dimensions into the artwork itself. A kinetic sculpture exists in three dimensions, making it more tangible, human and a representation of life itself. One of our key determining factors for whether something is living or dead is it’s ability to move. Seemingly unprovoked motion evokes life, that’s precisely why a swing rocking by itself is so eerie or a door shutting in the night can be so startling.

Parabola 03 by Ivan Black. Nobu Hotel, London
Parabola 03 by Ivan Black. Nobu Hotel, London

Kinetic art plays on the magic of motion and it’s ability to bring out a variety of complex emotions in us all. Kinetic art also explores a radically untouched subject in art, the onslaught of time. Time, as a dimension, is constantly at play in kinetic art, the sculpture’s ability to “live” is limited by time, whereas in traditional art there is frequently an attempt to be timeless, to freeze frame and tame time for all to see.

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