Skynet Series
Skynet is a series of experimental moving sculptures, nearly ten completed to date, located around the world.
Though the actual shape and size of each installation varies depending on the site, the artistic intent is constant: to capture wind-driven effects on a giant scale. Each piece is composed of a loosely suspended net made up of thousands of ribbons attached to a lightweight mesh. When they catch the wind, the assemblies undulate, the effect heightened by variances in color and texture. Working with the artist Patrick Shearn and his team from very early on, NOUS crafted a specialized procedure to inform the shape of each net, simulate the wind effects, and determine anchorage forces specific to each site.
Visions in Motion | Berlin, Germany
The 2019 Berlin Festival Week marked the 30th anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall, transforming the capital city into a large open-air exhibition and event location. The 20,000-square-foot kinetic installation spanned 450 feet in length at the Brandenburg Gate, where the former Wall divided the city.
River of Light | Hong Kong
River of Light is a 250-foot-long aerial sculpture located in Hong Kong. Commissioned by Hong Kong Design Centre, the installation was exhibited among large-scale outdoor artworks by seven international artists throughout the city. The artwork was visited by over 70,000 people over the course of its one-month-long display.
Firebird Descent | St. Petersburg, Russia
The giant Firebird sailed over New Holland Island in June 2017. Occupying over 32,500 square feet of space in total, this installation marked the city’s first public artwork at this scale. The installation is secured by cables tethered to seven pillars; each 62 feet high. The engineering team calculated the wind and weight limits, taking into account all the precise details of New Holland’s location and the potential weather conditions.
Location
Worldwide
Client
Poetic Kinetics
Artist
Poetic Kinetics
Staff Lead
Matthew Melnyk, SE
Status
In Progress
Recognition
Internationally exhibited in cities including Los Angeles, Berlin, Sydney, and Shanghai
CODAawards Design Award
Los Angeles Times, “Silver Lake Artist’s Giant Nets Dance Across the Skyline”
Dezeen, “Patrick Shearn’s Kinetic Skynets Float Over Urban Plazas”
The Guardian, “The Art of Air: Skynets Bring Public Space to Life”