'Chimecco' at Sculpture by the Sea

The kinetic sculpture ‘Chimecco’ is a large interactive wind chime by artist Mark Nixon. It is currently being exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea in Aarhus, Denmark: one of the most popular outdoor sculpture exhibitions in the world.

The design was selected as one of the winners of an open competition from over 350 submissions. Together with a team of assistants, Mark has spent the last month in Aarhus helping to construct the piece.

Visit the exhibition which opened June 2 and still runs until July 3, 2011 along the spectacular three-kilometer long coast line from Tangkrogen to Ballehage in Aarhus.

Project Description from the Artist:

The piece is constructed from 600 50mm diameter gold anodized aluminium pipes ranging in length from 120 mm up to 3750mm. These pipes are attached to the underside of a bridge and with a series of interactive nodes on the top surface that allow for people to “play” the instrument.

 The design is based on three conceptual ideas.

1. The idea of music and interaction as a catalyst for conversation and play. 
2. The non-visual object. The sculpture is ‘hidden’ beneath the bridge. A constant varying in wind conditions on the site mean that the sculpture will hide and reveal itself through the creation of sound when the wind choses to blow. Some days the sculpture will be discovered, creating a beautiful moment of realisation in the viewer, while other day the sculpture will remain still and may be completely passed by. The use of interactive nodes on the top creates another interesting effect.  Due to the object being hidden while it is played, a condition of performers and audience is created. The piece can be experienced in a number of different ways but never in its totality. 
3. Creation through the combined interactions of human movement and natural movement.

The sculpture is for sale at the price of 26,000 Euros and is being considered for 8 awards to be decided on June 30. Mark Nixon was chosen as one of three artists to be followed during the construction process for a documentary aired on Danish national television about Sculpture by the Sea.

Click here for a 360 degree sound panorama of the sculpture.