Life of Tree

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Title: Life of Tree by Hypersonic / Plebian Design
Photo Credit: Image courtesy of the artists
Lead Artist(s):
HYPERSONIC + PLEBIAN DESIGN
http://www.hypersonic.cc/

Bill Washabaugh and Jeff Lieberman

Description:

Life of Tree is a kinetic sculpture that simulates a tree’s reflection in water - a metaphor for how all scientific theories are only a reflection of the underlying reality. Depending on the distortions of our theories, the reality is seen more or less clearly.

The movement of Life of Tree embodies the universal scientific principles of resonance and frequency response - how all systems exhibit a wide range of responses across vast scales of space and time — sometimes known, sometimes hidden, and sometimes completely unexpected. Life of Tree creates a reflection of the natural world that keeps our eyes open toward the unknown. The movements were inspired by wind flow patterns, water surface movement, seismic activity, and solar cycles.

PROJECT LOCATION

Public Space
University
Life of Tree is installed in the newly re-modeled and expanded Crocker Science Center at the University of Utah. The work is suspended over the newly created atrium between the new and historic buildings.
The University of Utah Crocker Science Center
1430 PRESIDENTS CIRCLE
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
United States

click the map to enlarge
PROJECT TEAM

Utah Public Art Program
Utah Division of Arts & Museums
PROJECT DETAILS

Permanent
450000
Percent-for-Art
Kinetic, Sculpture
Electronics, Metal, Mixed Media, Plastic
--The branch structure of the tree is 3D printed out of plastic, with 190 unique hollow pieces. --The tree leaves are made out of perforated aluminum metal sheets, bent along triangular patterns. --The entire motion of the tree is driven by 1 servo-motor hidden near the very bottom (or top!) of the tree. --There are 24 horizontal slices of the tree, each slice is connected to the next by a spring. --The tree is entirely powered by solar panels on the roof of the building.
2017
2018