Piano Arrangement for Twelve Hyacinths, 2001
150cm x 70cm x 120cm
As the hyacinths grow.
This kinetic sculpture was centred around the extraordinary growth rate of the Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Blue Pearl’. Twelve Hyacinths were set up above a piano with tiny see saws balanced on top of the plants. A groove at the centre of these see saws held a steel ball bearing at the balancing centre point which was nudged off balance as the Hyacinth shoot grew. As the ball bearing dropped off the see saw, it hit the corresponding key below and sounded a note. In total over a week all twelve notes were sounded, playing out a very long and unpredictable piece of music which may or may not have had any listeners.
Intermedia Gallery, Solo exhibition, Glasgow, 2001.
