This work consists of mixed media, kinetic assemblages housed in small hand made cabinets. They are made up of found objects, mechanics, nature morte, photo and paint media with external and internal micro electronic components to produce interactive movement and sound.
Each cabinet has a theme, which is realised using manufactured, found objects (such as antique model aeroplanes, old style model tin car wheels and drivers, small hand wound music boxes, etc …) and other inanimate subject matter representing a form of “nature morte” such as dead insects (spiders, cicadas).
The assemblage is then illustrated with a work in print media and/or painting, which represents a still life, portrait or landscape, sometimes real and taken from my immediate environment, sometimes made up. Finally, a soundtrack or sound design accompanies the assemblage’s movement and theme.
The stillness of individual cabinets can be interrupted, brought to life by a singular motion made in close proximity to a cabinet’s external sensor. In some cases manipulating the components of a cabinet, such as turning the wheel of a small music box will also bring it to life.
The work is influenced by the kinetic sculptures of the American artist Arthur Ganson; Golan Levin, artist and creative programmer who makes art that looks at you; the “Readymades”, the found objects, which the artist Marcel Duchamp chose and presented as art; the paintings of Piet Mondrian and the Musique Concrète compositional practice developed by Pierre Schaeffer.
Mixed media: canvas and/or print (on 300 gsm William Turner 100% cotton paper), wooden frame & housing, paint, varnish, beads, wire, wooden tube, miscellaneous nuts & bolts.
Sound design: mono & stereo WAV and MP3 digital audio files.
Electronic components: (mini servo motor, IF sensor, Arduino Uno, flash drive, mp3 shield, mono 2.5W Class D audio amplifier, mini metal mono 0.5W speaker, 9V power supply);
Found objects: dead cicadas, huntsman spider, bogong moth, antique tin toy man, small hand wound music box, 1940’s model Dinky toys twin engine fighter.
Various Dimensions: from 144mm (w) x 204mm (h) x 72mm (d) to 594mm (w) x 170mm (h) x 72mm (d)
THE CABINETS
Sur le Pont de Katoomba on y danse, on y danse
Dimensions: 420mm (w) x 148mm (h) x 72mm (d)
Mixed media: Photo media (print on 300 gsm William Turner 100% cotton paper), wooden frame & housing, acrylic paint, varnish, electronic components (mini servo motor, IF sensor, Arduino Uno, 5V power supply), tin man, hand wound music box.
FLUTTER
Made up electronic self portrait. My mouth, nose and eyes are composed of an Infrared sensor (the mouth), a mini vibration motor/wire & red beads (the nose) and mini metal mono speakers (the eyes). When you come up close to my face (within 50cm) you spin my nose and play the electronic music soundtrack and recording of a bird’s wing fluttering.
Dimensions: 300mm (w) x 130mm (h) x 72mm (d)
Mixed media: Paint, wooden frame & housing, varnish, red beads & wire, electronic components (mini vibration motor, IF sensor, Arduino Uno, flash drive, mp3 shield, stereo 2.5W Class D audio amplifier, 2 mini metal mono 0.5W speaker, 5V power supply).
The Fly Catcher
A large huntsman spider purches at the end of it’s stick ready to catch the fly sitting on top of the cabinet as you move in to trigger it’s motion and sound.
Dimensions: 594mm (w) x 170mm (h) x 72mm (d)
Mixed media: Photo media (print on 300 gsm William Turner 100% cotton paper), wooden frame & housing, acrylic paint, varnish, electronic components (mini servo motor, IF sensor, Arduino Uno, flash drive, mp3 shield, mono 2.5W Class D audio amplifier, mini metal mono 0.5W speaker, 9V power supply), deceased hunstman spider and fly.
Cicada in a Wheelchair & Cicada Cemetery
Two deceased cicadas turn back and forth in spontaneous harmony. One moving out of it’s chair pushing the other into it’s grave. The soundtrack is made up of their location sound recording made one hot summer’s day in Blackheath, some added electronic sound effects and the sound of their motors turning complete the soundtrack.
Cicada in a Wheelchair
Dimensions: 144mm (w) x 204mm (h) x 72mm (d)
Mixed media: Photo media (print on 300 gsm William Turner 100% cotton paper), wooden frame & housing, acrylic paint, varnish, electronic components (mini servo motor, IF sensor, Arduino Uno, flash drive, mp3 shield, mono 2.5W Class D audio amplifier, mini metal mono 0.5W speaker, 9V power supply), deceased cicada.
Cicada Cemetery
Dimensions: 144mm (w) x 204mm (h) x 72mm (d)
Mixed media: Photo media (print on 300 gsm William Turner 100% cotton paper), wooden frame & housing, acrylic paint, varnish, electronic components (mini servo motor, IF sensor, Arduino Uno, 9V power supply), deceased cicada.
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