The Mechanical Life Cycle of a shy Orchid - January 2008

(50 x 170 x 140 cm)
faux orchid, garden twine, grocer's grass,
electric motors, clutch mechanism, wood,
motion sensor, micro switches.

An artificial, mechanised, flower stood opposite a motorised cam.

People entering or exiting the installation space caused the cam to rotate slowly.

Eventually the, off-centred, cam would rotate to the spot where it pushed closed "kill" a siwtch which was connected to the mechanical flower.

The flower wilted as though it was 'blushing' or 'dead' It would remain in this wilted state until the cam moved off the kill switch. Whereby the flower would spring back to 'life' or regain 'confidence.'

This piece was another of my investigations into the notion of 'responsibility' and 'cause and effect.'

Like some of my other works, I tried to create the situation where the viewer was automatically responsible for the demise or rejuvenation of the artwork.