The History Of Kinetic Sculpture

By Addison Overberry


Kinetic is a mid 19th century word originating from the Greek word kinetikos. The word kinetic means something relating to motion. Kinetic art is an art form that depends on motion and includes a variety of moving parts to attain the desired effect. The relocating parts will generally move with the aid of a motor, the wind, or even the manual manipulation of the audience members. Generally speaking, kinetic art covers a large range of styles and techniques.

Kinetic sculptures are three dimensional. Like all pieces of this art form, these sculptures involve motion or have relocating parts. The first known kinetic sculpture dates back to 1913. It was called the Bicycle Wheel. It was produced by the French artist Marcel Duchamp. He was best known for his contributions to the Dadaist and Surrealist movements. Kinetic art was later recognized as part of the Realist Manifesto including Constructivism in 1920.

What may be best described as the Golden Age of Kinetic art occurred in the 1950's and 1960's. It was during this time period that artists such as George Rickey and Alexander Calder honed the craft.

Theo Jansen, a Dutch artist born in 1948, is best understood for kinetic art making use of the wind for motion. In 1990, Jansen started creating his so-called beach beasts, consisting for the most part of PVC plastic piping. As the name suggests, these sculptures were placed on beaches and they moved based on the activity of the wind. These virtually skeleton like art forms appear to almost walk as the piping flexes in tune with the blowing of the wind. A much more eerie aspect of these pieces are the stomachs. This almost human appendage includes plastic bottles that can really store the atmospheric pressure from wind. They then let it out when the air is calm, causing the statue to proceed on it's very own.

One of the more famous kinetic art wind sculptures is The Singing Ringing Tree in Lancashire, England.
Mark White wind sculptures





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