World's Largest Kinetic Art Sculpture

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Kinetic Rain - World's largest kinetic art sculpture at Changi Airport Terminal 1

Kinetic Rain #3
Kinetic Rain (a) (Photo credit: chooyutshing)
World's largest kinetic art sculpture unveiled at Changi Airport
SINGAPORE, 4 July 2012 -- Passengers and airport visitors entering the Departure Check-in Hall at Singapore Changi Airport's Terminal 1 (T1) can expect to stop in their tracks and
be captivated by a new art installation. Kinetic Rain, as it is titled, takes pride of place at the terminal, enthralling visitors with its fluidity, distinctive shapes, elegant and refined movements and precision-perfect technology.


Kinetic Rain, installed as part of T1's recent refurbishment,
is the icon of the revamped Departure Chec


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Kinetic Rain (b) (Photo credit: chooyutshing)

Kinetic Rain is made up of 1,216 bronze droplets that transform elegantly into multiple shapes, akin to poetry in motion. Carrying an aviation theme, the key element in every shape shows the movement of flight through slow, fluid movements. Some of the more recognisable shapes include an aeroplane, hot air balloon and a kite. One can also make out a dragon and a flock of birds amongst the 16 different programmed segments.

Each droplet is connected to motors installed in the ceiling of the Departure Check-in Hall. The motors contain a high precision rotary encoder which keeps track of the exact position of each droplet. A computer programme is used to control the movement
of the droplets to form Kinetic Rain's unique shapes and patterns.
A video on the making-of Kinetic Rain can be viewed here.
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Kinetic Rain (c) (Photo credit: chooyutshing)

Kinetic Rain was created over a span of 20 months.
Artists, programmers and technologists were engaged
to analyse the space available at T1 and conceptualise a masterpiece that would be representative of the new terminal.
The refurbished T1 is aptly themed 'Tropical City' in keeping with Singapore's garden city status and where rain, is very much a part of the tropical climate.

Mr Yeo Kia Thye, Senior Vice President for Airport Operations, Changi Airport Group, said, "When we decided to upgrade
Terminal 1 in 2008, we were mindful that people have fond
memories of the terminal including the old Mylar Cords,
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Kinetic Rain (d) (Photo credit: chooyutshing)
the circular curtain of water that straddled three stories of the building.
We wanted an art sculpture, which we found in Kinetic Rain,
that was able to add the signature touch linking back to T1's illustri
ous past in a new and exciting way.


"With more than a thousand raindrops working together in harmony, Kinetic Rain also symbolises the thousands in the airport community who work together every day to provide our passengers and visitors with a positively surprising and memorable Changi Experience."

An audio commentary and official video are also available for visitors who wish to know more about Kinetic Rain. All they have to do is scan the QR code present at the display boards at the T1 Departure Check-in Hall with their smartphones. For more information about the refurbished T1, please visit: www.changiairport.com/terminal1

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Kinetic Rain (e) (Photo credit: chooyutshing)
Kinetic Rain was created over a period of two years by artists, animators and programmers from the German design firm Art+Com. Its cost has not been made public. According to Art+Com, the sculpture "aims to be a source of identity for its location, and provides a moment for passengers to contemplate and reflect"