After starting to play around with magnets a bit in ChaoDependant, I've had a few ideas for more static selfcontained works.
Firstly, playing with static repulsion. Taking tubes, dropping rod magnets into them, and using different sizes to play with the visual rhythm. Also using different liquids in the tube to affect the gaps between the magnets by altering their buoyancy.
Its then fun to play with the dynamics of the system a bit - either allowing the viewer to move the magnets at the end of the tube, or doing it with electromagnets. Then there's the spatial/rhythmic change as the magnets alter position, and also the possibility of playing with the density of the surrounding liquid (and the gap around the magnets) to alter the speeds of movement.
Next up, ferrofluid is an obvious way to go forwards. Forming impossible shapes in space, constantly changing geometries etc. This probably want's electromagnets involved...
I always want to create static levitating shapes, but I don't have a clear idea how to do it stably and in a way that makes the levitation obvious and interesting.
I want to create a series of frames - about 300-400mm square, each with a different magnetic vignette in.
So, time to look at powering electromagnets, I think.
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