LOOK AT ME 

 
                LOOK AT ME is a joint piece with designer SIDONIE DEVIENNE. A moving sculpture based on ARTHUR’s face, it is constructed from multiple wooden cross-sections fabricated after a plaster face cast, reassembled to reveal his likeness. Controlled by a hand crafted crankshaft, the movement displays the beauty of contrasting colours, the flower’s brightness juxtaposing the sombre palate of the face. Watch the moment inner beauty breaks past the facade of seriousness worn by many daily.

Front view, layered pine face and balsa wood flowers visible 

Rear view, crank shaft, crank and L arm verticle-to-horizontal mechanism visible 

        The basic mechanical requirements of LOOK AT ME were that vertical motion would have to be converted into horizontal motion and that the motion would exert equal force forwards and backwards. This was achieved by utilising L shaped arms pivoting along their corner point. Furthermore, to create latency at the momency peak extension/retraction, slots in the pistons pushing the flowers are used.

       The flowers themselves are fabricated out of balsa to allow the flexibility required for their opening and closing. To ensure their resilience against repeated use, as well as to reduce overall friction, each petal is backed with flexible polyurethane sheet.

Rear view, housing for flowers when retracted, delay slots in flower pistons visible 

Front view, flower retracted and flower extended