Light Wave, 1999
Glass, metals, nylon and electric motor
5 x 2 x 2m
The wave that ripples across the glass is a true sine-wave. Gravity and kinetic energy operate in a state of equilibrium so that the ninety 'blades' of glass, weighing a half a ton, can be set in motion by a mere hundred watt motor, the consumption of an average household light-bulb.
Spirit, 2000
stainless steel and electric motor
5 x 2.5 x 2m
Spirit was made for the Magna Science Adventure Park in Rotherham S. Yorkshire. Magna is built in a colossal converted steel mill and received the Building of the Year award, 2001.
Once a day a seemingly endless freight train carrying sheets of steel trundles past the spacious lawn where children play around the sculpture, evoking a strange scene of lyrical and industrial. Spirit took the same mechanism as Light Wave but transposed the undulating motion to the vertical. It has the additional dimension by being made hollow creating sensual internal pattern, especially when the sun is overhead.
Airflow, 2001
Glass fibre, metals, LEDs and electronics
10 x 2 x. 2.5m
Airflow stands at the entrance to Gallery Oldham near Manchester, a turbulent part of the world, in more ways one. The brief was for a wind sculpture because the site of the new gallery is subjected to constant wind coming of the moors. His design uses the wind turbine, an elegant version of the Savonius rotor, to turn sine-wave form. His particular interest in the project was exploiting the property of the eye - persistence of vision, whereby the spinning mirror-polished wave reflects sunlight by day and illuminated by night, creating three dimensional 'bubbles' . He developed a method of producing a 'light-line' by stringing together high intensity light emitting diodes, imbedded in clear rubber. Airflow has been the his most technically challenging piece of work to date and he greatly acknowledges the encouragement and support of the project overseers, The Art Department of Manchester
Light Air, 2006
The new wind-sculpture stands at the entrance of Salisbury District Hospital's new wing which has spectacular views onto Salisbury Plain.
The wind turbine is my own version of the Savonius turbine, It is made in white to be shell-like and to reflect both ambient and eartificial light. The lights are LEDs and change colour each day in a sequence of four colours; purple, malachite (green/blue), orange and indigo. These colours have been specially selected as they instill a refreshing and calming feeling in the hope this will have appositive effect on visitors and staff at the Hospital. The sequence of four is means that each day of the week will not have a colour designated to it. So Monday, say, will not always be purple, intending to break that sense of routine. Sometimes the shell turbine will be still, sometimes turning sedately. I hope patients who might be confined to the ward, will look out of the window and feel, to some degree, in touch with the outside and the elements.
Spinning Light or Light Ball
Krypton bulbs, circuit board and brass
An experiment - as the layers are switched from one to the next it creates the illusion of a pulsating ball. Plans to make a huge one, also the basis for a wind sculpture design, need funding though.
Bottle & CD Wind Sculpture, 2006
Made originally as The Windable Wind Sculpture for the Kilburn Festival, the artwork was a collaboration with ceramicist Josie Warshaw, basket maker Polly Pollock and Year 7 of Hampstead School. It was built as the inaugural project to Kingsgate Workshop's new Education Block and now can be seen above its entrance.
Statement
Thomas Wilkinson has made moving sculpture and automata for museums, galleries and public spaces since 1991 with work sited all around the UK. Since 1999 he has worked on large public art projects for Yorkshire and Lancashire such as Magna Science Adventure Park in Rotherham and in the last few years he has been concentrating on wind powered sculpture such as Airflow for Gallery Oldham. His work often reflects the way energy moves - and the patterns created, the directness of wind energy is particularly appealing to him. He is also works as part of the group Arts Republic (www.artsrepublic.co.uk). They recently made their first solar powered sculpture for Nightingale Primary School in Haringey, London.