acastronovo produces after trillium a solar robotic sculpture

acastronovo produces after trillium a solar robotic sculpture
all images courtesy of acastronovo

the solar-powered robotic sculpture, ‘after trillium’ by american artist anthony castronovo of  is based on the iowa native trillium flower. the responsive piece is made out of cast aluminum and kiln-formed glass, and it uses custom electronics to adapt to the local environment. opening its petals each morning and closing them during the night, the flower becomes brightly illuminated within 4 hours after dusk. the main environmental factor that affects the installation is the surrounding temperature, as it controls how far the flower is to open each day. in winter when it is below freezing, the sculpture remains dormant and doesn’t open. throughout the warmer months, it opens more and more each day until it is in full bloom at the peak of summer. after trillium was commissioned for the iowa river landing wetlands park in coralville and was inspired by the poem arboretum author mark levine.

‘the sculpture is a bridge between technology and nature, it makes a direct correlation between a physical form and unseen forces in nature.’ says anthony castronovo.

the flower blooms more and more each day until the hottest part of summer

at night the flower closes and is illuminated from within

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.