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Kinetic art to help you relax

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

Physics in art: Artist Masato Tanaka examines one of his kinetic sculptures.

PUDUCHERRY: Can a bit of physics and mathematics help you relax? Yes, says Japanese kinetic artist and 3-4 dimensional space designer Masato Tanaka, who has used hard cold materials such as steel, brass, aluminium, lenses and plastic to make a series of kinetic sculptures that represent nature’s soft movements, including that of a gentle breeze, the shaking of leaves, and the movement of waves.

“Nowadays, life is very stressed. It is too quick and busy. We need relaxation and need to slow down at times. I have used very hard materials to specifically show that we can get such light, soft feelings even from them. I wanted to create an atmosphere of comfort or even a sort of landscape,” says the artist, who has had solo exhibitions in Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Japan and Malaysia.

The way the sculptures move (using motors), are lit up, the shadows they cast, the silhouette of the viewers and the lounge music playing in the background together create a relaxing atmosphere.

An exhibition of his kinetic sculptures is on at Aurodhan Art Gallery at 33, Francois Martin Street, Kuruchikuppam, Puducherry, till August 26.

In the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where he started experimenting with kinetic sculptures, Mr. Masato Tanaka tried to make the sculptures using natural materials such as wood, but they didn’t quite come out right. “Since I draw inspiration from nature my first trials were with wood, but without motors. But then I switched over to these materials. Even now I use natural feathers to accentuate some sculptures,” he says.

The sculptures, with names such as ‘wind drinker’, ‘sink in the sky’, ‘some songs from the waves’, ‘before it drops from your hands’, ‘the tail of the wind rounded in my pocket’, ‘connecting the sounds of the stars’, are all fitted with small motors to enable them to move. “Though there is a motor the main power is the force of gravity, which controls the movements of the various arms of the sculptures,” Mr. Masato Tanaka adds.

Asked why he chose kinetics (kinetic energy is the extra energy a body possesses due to its motion) as his subject, Mr. Masato Tanaka, says, “Change is constant... even stones change. Even photos that are said to be the same change, their colours change. Our feelings are kinetic, they keep changing. The sculptures are also about how to enjoy the passing of time. I want to create spaces in offices where people can look and enjoy these sculptures.”

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