Kinetic Contraption
Available: 6 Dec 2025 – 16 March 2026
Year level: Suitable for all year levels
Duration: 90 minutes
How do Len Lye’s sculptures use movement and sound to express energy and emotion?
What do artists need to think about to make a moving sculpture?
How can light, shadow, and reflection transform the way we experience sculpture?
Open your students’ minds to the science and ideas behind Len Lye’s dynamic sculptures in Direct Bodily Empathy – Sensing Sound, a powerful exhibition exploring movement, energy, and resonance. Featuring kinetic sculptures, experimental films, and visual music, this immersive experience showcases both Len Lye’s iconic works and new creations by contemporary artists from Aotearoa and beyond.
In our Learning Centre, ākonga respond creatively to the zizz, boing, and CLANG of the exhibition through drawing, writing, and body movement. They experiment with materials and motion to design their own model sculptures, exploring what makes things move and how to build them. Older students imagine their sculptures at full scale, and everyone gets to play with light, shadow, and reflection—Len Lye style!
Curriculum links:
- Visual Arts
- Science – Living World; Material World; Physical World
- Technology
At school:
Preview the exhibition Direct Bodily Empathy - Sensing Sound | Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Centre
Name your sculpture, then work with classmates to design a model of an outdoor space—like a theme park or garden—where it could live and be enjoyed.
For more ideas purchase the Gallery’s fantastic Len Lye resource Ziggle! The Len Lye Art Activity Book