Commissioned by Science Gallery Melbourne for the exhibition Perfection. Perfection was shown in the Melbourne School of Design, the University of Melbourne, in September and October 2018.
DROP explores the concept of perfection in relation to water dynamics, balance and systems. DROP is a water-driven, cyclical system embodied in an artwork. It is driven by two primary, crucial factors: the power of water, and the inter-reliant relationships between components within the system. It asks the question: how does perfection manifest in the ongoing functioning of cyclical systems, and what role does water play in this manifestation?
The three vessels in DROP are suspended on a single length of cable supported by several pulleys. Because of this, the vessels sit in dynamic relation to each other, with the weight of each of the three vessels at any one point in time determining their subsequent heights. As water is pumped from the first vessel to the second, the water's weight gradually shifts until it causes the second vessel to drop, whilst the first vessel rises. As it does so, the next pump starts and begins to move water from the now-full second vessel to the third vessel. When the third vessel is full, the next pump starts and the first vessel is filled again. This process continues indefinitely in a cyclic loop. The incremental nature of the water's movement means that DROP takes approximately one day to complete a full cycle.
In this system, each component is crucial to the system’s ongoing cyclical functioning. However, as is visible in this system, perfection in a system is not achieved through the perfection of each component, but is instead found in the perfect balance between components. For example, the amount of water in one vessel is irrelevant to the system; what is important is that there is the ‘perfect’ amount of water balanced across the three vessels, so that the system is in perfect balance at any given point in time – and can therefore continue to function.
Images by Christian Capurro.