Len Lye, Convolutions, 2021, Len Lye Foundation. Image: Bryan James.
Exhibition
4 Dec 2021 — 21 Aug 2022
Len Lye: Convolutions
One of Len Lye’s most novel projects is realised.
Len Lye, Drawing for Spiral Family, c1965, Len Lye Foundation.
Len Lye, Drawing for Convolutions, 1964, Len Lye Foundation.
Len Lye, Drawing for Serpent, c1965, Len Lye Foundation.
Alternatively known as Wall Serpent or Wall Motion Sculpture, Convolutions is among Len Lye’s most intriguing large-scale kinetic sculptures, closer in spirit to the organic forms of his experimental film Tusalava (1929) and his biomorphic paintings of the 1930s than his typical kinetic sculpture of the 1960s.
Spanning over 10 metres in length and 5 metres high, a 28 metre loop of stainless-steel strip travels, thread-like, through an arrangement of rollers reminiscent of a scaled-up film projector.
The endlessly looping lines of stainless-steel bulge and squeeze as they take on biological, cell-like forms as if portraying life under a microscope. Erected onto one of the larger walls of the Gallery and with the engineering behind and hidden from view, Lye’s vision was architectural, a moving wall-based drawing or mural.
Following Wand Dance (2019) and Sky Snakes (2020), Convolutions is the third of Len Lye’s kinetic works to be reconstructed by the Len Lye Foundation in partnership with Team Zizz!
About Team Zizz
Spearheaded by the Len Lye Foundation, Team Zizz is a community of donators passionate about the work of Len Lye and the value it adds to the Taranaki region. Through many generous donations to date, Team Zizz has raised the money to fund three large, kinetic sculptures, to be displayed at the Len Lye Centre.
