A three-dimensional spiral in stainless steel. The spiral is static; its curvature and twist produce a sense of rotation when the viewer moves. The form is defined by a parametric spiral (a curve that winds around an axis while moving along it); the exact parameters set the pitch and the apparent direction of spin. The title refers to the contrast between the fixed object and the implied motion of a rotating planet.
Research:
The spiral was modeled parametrically: one parameter controls the rate of rotation around the axis, another the rate of advance along the axis. The equation produces a smooth 3D curve that was then given thickness for fabrication. The study compared different parameter sets for the strength of the rotational illusion when viewed from different angles and for structural stability in stainless steel at the chosen scale.
Photography: Studio Olafur Elíasson, Maris Hutchinson
https://olafureliasson.net/artwork/the-planet-spins-despite-me-stopping-2018/
