Client: Biogen
Location: Cambridge, MA, United States
Completion date: 2014
Artwork budget: $383,000
Project Team
Artist
Bill Washabaugh
Hypersonic
Artist
Jeff Lieberman
Plebian Design
Engineer
Gwylim Johnstone
Hypersonic
Engineer
Katie Treidl
Hypersonic
Overview
Breaking Wave is an anamorphic kinetic sculpture created for Biogen’s new headquarters in Cambridge, MA.
Breaking Wave tells the story of the search for patterns, and the surprising results that come by changing our point of view. 804 suspended spheres move in a wave-like formation. When the wave crests and breaks, the balls hover momentarily in a cloud. From almost anywhere in the room, this cloud is purely chaotic, but step into one of two hidden spots, and this apparent chaos shows a hidden pattern. From the first, a labyrinth hints at the search for knowledge, and from the second, a Fibonacci spiral inspired flower reminds us of the natural order and patterns found in nature.
Breaking Wave is made of wood, steel, stainless steel, plastic, and a motor. It is 8′ x 8′ x 16′.
Goals
This sculpture tells the dynamic story of the search for hidden information in chaotic data sets.
Process
The project was conceived by Hypersonic and Plebian Design, working with Small Design Firm, and the team at Biogen.