Sunday, April 8, 2012

This giant, spiky stargate is really a huge musical instrument


Photo Credit: Luke Jerram
A unique new sculpture was unveiled in London that not only looks good — it sounds good as well. The arch is made of 310 polished steel tubes channeling both light and the breeze to create an ever-changing experience for its audience standing below.


The sculpture is actually a giant Aeolian harp — an instrument played by the wind. In between thegiant tubes are strings that are sensitive to movements in the breeze causing them to vibrate. The vibrations are transferred through skins on the top and channeled by the tubes ending up as sounds heard by users standing underneath.
The sculpture is aptly named Aeolus, after the rule of the four winds in Greek mythology, and the sound it makes is described as a low, resonant hum.


On his website, artist Luke Jerram says of his work, "Aeolus is a giant stringed musical instrument, an acoustic and optical pavilion designed to make audible the silent shifting patterns of the wind and to visually amplify the ever changing sky."




The modern sculpture is on display at the Canary Wharf in London until May 10. Beyond that, the artwork is available for sale by the artist.

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