Floating on a digital cloud or a wave of kinetic balls

To celebrate its 90-year history, BMW has recently opened a Museum in Munich, showcasing 125 exhibits of BMW at its finest. One that certainly caught my eye was the fascinating kinetic sculpture made up of 714 metal spheres. Suspended from the ceiling by string, the spheres dance in a hypnotic fashion to create stunningly satisfying waves and curves. The mechatronic structure is a perfect example of abstract art, which is successful at engaging with its audience. Watch the video carefully for the finale, as the structure arranges itself into a silhouette of a classic BMW:

My attention was also drawn to other creative structures in public spaces such as BA’s Troika installation in Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Taking inspiration from train station departure boards in the 70s and 80s, the sculpture comprises of 4638 flip-dots, which interchange between black and silver to create beautiful ripples. A great concept, which relieves the stresses of an airport, well that combined with the therapy of the retail kind! View the interactive:

Not only are these installations a creative use of technology; they capture the audience’s attention and complement the environments in which they are installed.