Sculptures.org.nz

Protoplasm

Original image by Russell James Smith

2. Protoplasm

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Artist Phil Price
Year
Location On the Lambton end of the Old Banks Arcade block
Tour directions From John Plimmer and Fritz cross the road and head toward the traffic lights.

Who's Flip?

Protoplasm was replaced by Flip until 2007, as similar work with squarish blue discs, when it was damaged by a crane in 2004.

Sculpture background

"I am looking at the study of matter, Protoplasm is the name given to the inside active part of any living cell. The pebbles and movement simulate the random active cells."

"Protoplasm is so simple and yet it was so complex to make. It has taken around six years since I first had the idea to realising this work. I tested a plywood replica for many months in the face of the Canterbury Norwesters."

"In this final Protoplasm, every structural member, being shafts and beams, is calculated to withstand the force that can be applied to the entire surface area. The bearings are over-engineered to a huge degree, to probably about ten times what is needed."

Phil Price

 The sculpture consists of carbon fibre and steel. In wind, the lowest disc of either sculpture rotates on the support, while the discs above each rotate on the next disc down, so that the structure takes on an infinite number of configurations.

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