Saturday, November 01, 2008

Heart automaton made of meshed moving gears

I'm uncertain if the material used in this hand-cranked automaton figure of a heart is wood (the narration is in Japanese). Of this much I am certain: the effect is mind blowing.

It just doesn't seem possible that the gear shapes that make up the outline of this sculpted heart shape can rotate freely -- but they do! And smoothly at that. It takes a few revolutions of the handle before the pieces of the moving, fragmented heart gently reassemble. A wonderful metaphor for the the breaking and healing of hearts, but I have no idea if that was the artist's intention.

This is one of the most amazing pieces I have seen, both for its artistry and the technical accomplishment.

[ Thanks Martin! ]


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3 Comments:

Blogger PoisonedV said...

It's been posted at several blogs I read and most have concluded its... papercraft.

November 1, 2008 at 11:47 AM  
Blogger Dug North said...

PoisonedV,

Papercraft?! Double-wow.

Regards,

Dug North

November 2, 2008 at 2:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://www.geocities.jp/kamikara1967/index.html
have a look ;-)
This artist was one of the winners of the world karakuri contest in 2005...........
philsing

November 2, 2008 at 3:13 AM  

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