Though they approach the question differently, both scientists and artists have long been concerned with the relationship between the simple and the complex. Scientists strive to find simple, elegant mechanisms and equations that describe the complexity seen on our planet and the universe beyond, while many artists explore the ways that simple forms can create complex emotions, or how complex patterns and designs can cohere into unified visions.
English sculptor Conrad Shawcross addresses this age-old concern with a series of intriguing light-based kinetic sculptures. One set of pieces, called Loop System Quintet, consists of five large wooden contraptions that rotate around their base, and each hold an arm with a bright light attached that spins independently of the base. The effect is a long row of complex and intimidating wooden machines that trace elegant patterns of light in the air at an unnervingly fast speed. Shawcross has determined the motion of these machines using specially chosen gear ratios, resulting in movements that continue to repeat themselves.
The jarring speed of these complex contraptions convey the vigor of some unfathomable industrial machinery, while also clearly showing the rigor of a carefully planned, and ultimately simple, repeating process. The work brings to mind several topics from contemporary science. As the artist himself admits, the sculptures reference string theory by the way they repeat their motions in "harmonic" patterns, creating three dimensional light traces from a one dimensional point of light (string theory proposes that all physical particles in the universe are actually created by strings that vibrate at different resonant frequencies - like the specific notes created by plucking a guitar string). Shawcross' use of harmonics is intriguing in the way his machines seem complex but continue to follow very elegant lines of motion. However, the beautiful long exposure photographs of the three dimensional light traces (shown above) are not actually visible when viewing the sculpture.
What can be seen watching the sculptures is how the path of the light changes from moment to moment. The simplicity of this motion contrasted with the almost ugly jerkiness of the machines calls to mind the elegant motions of the planets, the paths of electrons around nuclei, or the dance between a binary stars. Rather than show the simplicity in a complex system, as scientists strive for, Shawcross explores the complexity behind simple systems. By using complex wooden machinery to create simple harmonic forms, the artist suggests that there may be more layers below the surface of simple forms and motions. And yet, the complexity of Shawcross' machinery is ultimately deterministic -- the forms repeat themselves; nothing is left to chance. This is another aspect where the piece does not successfully address the quantum nature of string theory, but still stands up to larger scale metaphors such as planetary motion.
The photo above was taken by Jonathan Shaw, and can be found at London's Walker Art Gallery website. See more about Shawcross' work at Pixelsumo.
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