leif maginnis spins artstrobe with pulsating ultraviolet light

leif maginnis spins artstrobe with pulsating ultraviolet light
all images courtesy of leif maginnis

the ‘artstrobe’ by leif maginnis uses pulsating ultraviolet light and fluorescent-colored polyhedrons to create a mesmerizing display of whirling patterns. the kinetic artwork adopts a stroboscopic instrument to control its movement – a result of experimenting with two-dimensional cut-outs on a flat spinning disk and exploring the combination of geometry, lighting and mechanics together. the construction of the TIG-welded piece is formed by joining several steel polyhedron shapes into one object.

an infinity mirror box is mounted onto the spinning faces with a variable speed motor positioned below to adjust the levels. the faces of the structure are covered with different fluorescent colors that, when placed under the ultraviolet light, reveal complex patterns. people can directly interact with the ‘artstrobe’ by turning several knobs at its base to create their own, customized designs.

the spinning ‘rhombicosidodecahedron’ creates a kintetic light display of moving patterns

the piece captured whirling in fast motion on its base

a girl turns a knob at the base of the structure to change the light patterns

people interacting with the ‘artstrobe’ at an event

the ‘rhombic triacontahedron’ inside the infinity mirror in daylight – its shape consists of 30 sides

the three main shapes that form the ‘rhombicosidodecahedron’, with a total of 62 sides

the beginning of the assembly process

the shaft through the middle supports it while it spins

TIG welding the piece together

the steel frame of the artstrobe

coloring the faces of the rhombicosidodecahedron

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.