morning star kinetic sculpture by karina smigla-bobinski

morning star kinetic sculpture by karina smigla-bobinski
all images courtesy of karina smigla-bobinski

artist karina smigla-bobinski presents her ‘morning star’ exhibition at the BBK in munich, germany. the piece is made of nearly 300 arrows piercing directly into a unseen center. taking shape as a free-floating sphere, it appears frozen in the dual states of both expansion and implosion. this sense of duality and ambivalence, is the driving force behind the celebratory work.

‘morning star’ arrow detail

arrows, to smigla-bobinski, are a pure example of such a state. the head represents aggression, made of cold, hard material capable of puncturing any thing or one unlucky enough to face it. yet, its opposite is composed of feather; symbolic of lightness and the feeling of freedom. the two concepts are held together by nothing more than a thin black line.

the piece’s name, ‘morning star’ has a similarly two-tone quality. its is both a known nickname for venus, our brightest star as well as the mythological goddess of love and beauty; and a brute weapon used for centuries to bludgeon ones enemies. common to all these polarities, is a point at which they meet. a taut epicenter that keeps the line between strained, constantly balancing one idea against the other. ‘morning star’ is currently at BBK in munich, germany. 

a visitor experiences the installation 

nearly 300 arrows compose the piece 

‘morning star’ weapon (center) and ‘venus’ by beham sebald

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: nick brink | designboom