Well-Tempered Hygrometer Part II

In 2015 there was a sonic extension of kinetic sculpture reacting to relative humidity.

This 5.5m long kinetic sculpture has 384 levers, which are in constant and subtle movement over an extended period of time. It challenges close observation during its organic transformation.

Every lever is attached to a single horsehair. Hair reacts to humidity. Hence the surrounding atmosphere dictates the lever’s movement.

The sculpture comprises 4224 handcrafted elements. All elements are sawn, sanded, drilled, stamped and lacquered numerous times. The individual pieces of wood were cut from pine and ash logs. All joints are designed from aluminium resulting from numerous tests and hence are suitable to be exposed to humidity. The sculpture can be ‘tuned’ through the pegs on the top, which keep the horsehair in tension with the levers. The individual lengths of levers relate to those of the horsehair.

Themes of scale, variations within music and musical instruments as well as the invisible atmosphere and the quest for slowness inspired the piece.