Inverta
Inverta
2021
150 x 150 x 120 cm
Unique piece
Stainless steel, aluminium, perspex, electric motor and mechanical parts
A circular axle is able to rotate by the use of 36 universal joints hanging from perspex rods and transmitting their rotary motion onto the next. In between the joints, 36 stainless steel objects are attached that rotate at the same speed as the axle.
One of the objects has a slightly thinner body, making room for two integrated timing pulleys and thin cogged belts that connect it with the drive mechanism situated on the upper circular frame.
The objects are made from thin sheet material and are carefully balanced by placing several counterweights inside their hollow bodies and by perforating their tails,
reducing the amount of material furthest away from the axle. During the entire revolution their centre of gravity perfectly aligns with the position of the axle so that a stable rotation is ensured.
The spiral shaped form of the objects - with several fins on the sides, a big horn on the head and a curvy tail - gives them a natural appearance, contrasting with the sharp industrial look of the stainless steel.
The smooth and steady movement of the sculpture creates a strong illusion of the separate objects merging into one being, reminiscent of a living organism that slowly transforms from one shape into another. At one moment, one might see a flower, just about to open, and then an underwater creature, weightlessly extending its tentacles, while just a moment later the sculpture transforms into a completely new shape, reminiscent of an atomic bomb explosion.
