Kinetic

During the Second World War, George Rickey served in the American air force. He was involved in the design of rotating support structures for mounted machine guns in bombers. Later, he used the acquired knowledge in the construction of his kinetic (moving) sculptures. He was particularly interested in the combination of technology, new materials and the arrangement of elements in space.

Ever-changing compositions

Rickey made his first kinetic sculptures in the early 50s. They were constructed of aluminium parts, which are hung in such a balance that the slightest breath of wind sets them in motion. The parts themselves have a geometric shape, for instance, a square, a line, a rectangle or a triangle. The shapes change position constantly and never touch each other. This creates ever-changing compositions in the space.

Silent

This kinetic sculpture consists of five needle-shaped lines that slowly move independently of each other in horizontal and vertical directions and rotate around a vertical axis. The fact that these movements are silent makes them all the more fascinating.