“As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all beings.”
Dalai Lama
The ancient Greek philosophers contemplated the origins, composition and functioning of the physical universe. They applied mathematics and used a range of beliefs to theorise about the of nature of their world. As the Greeks attempted to understand the mysteries of the cosmos and our presence in it, so the artists Alexandra Carr and Colin Rennie from Torus Torus Studios engage in working with natural phenomena to explore the nature of reality to create and deliver the centrepiece for the groundbreaking Energy Revolution: Adani Green Energy Gallery at the Science Museum, London.
The gallery examines the rapid energy transition and decarbonisation needed globally to limit climate change. The displays encourage visitors to reflect on past energy transitions and the pioneers who dreamed what might be possible, while imagining the energy use that will shape our low carbon future.
Torus Torus Studios latest commission ‘Only Breath’ a kinetic sculpture for groundbreaking Energy Revolution: Adani Green Energy Gallery references renewable energy technology and highlights the natural processes and phenomena that such technologies harness. By evoking natural balance, breathing and blooming, the artwork signifies the power of nature to stir technological change. The chosen materials were inspired by the need for energy revolution (from repurposed mirror, infinitely recyclable stainless steel, to windblown carbon-storing wood).
Although Only Breath muses on the Rumi poem of the same name, we can also associate the concept of the sculpture with one of the most sacred elements of life - Air - that is held in Earth's atmosphere. It is a breathable gas essential for life that comprises a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen. Humans and other mammals breathe air into their lungs so it can enter the bloodstream to help with the proper functioning of our tissues and organs. We also breathe to exhale carbon dioxide gas, which is a type of waste our bodies produce.
At the core of Only Breath lies a fusion of art and science, incorporating principles of biomimicry and renewable energy technology. The sculpture's tessellating structure, derived from the voronoi algorithm and phyllotaxis spiral, mirrors the efficiency of organic forms, highlighting the importance of nature-inspired sustainable energy production. Comprising 23 moving stainless steel frames containing 92 windblown native timber panels, including timber from trees felled by storm Arwen, the sculpture moves slowly and gracefully, initiating from an almost imperceptible start, gradually speeding up, then slowing again to an almost imperceptible stop – imitating the act of inhalation and exhalation .
The underside of the panels features subtle two-way mirrors reclaimed from a previous project, forming a concave lens reminiscent of solar arrays, reflecting and focusing on the viewer, inviting introspection amidst the gallery's dynamic atmosphere. The sculpture's cyclical movement, akin to natural phenomena such as circadian rhythms and the nyctinasty of blooming flowers, encourages contemplation on our interconnectedness with the environment.
And Rumi a 13th Century Persian poet reminds us with his timeless and heart-to-heart poem ‘Only Breath’ of our interdependence and to pursue a holistic approach.
Only Breath
Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu
Buddhist, sufi, or zen. Not any religion
or cultural system. I am not from the East
or the West, not out of the ocean or up
from the ground, not natural or ethereal, not
composed of elements at all. I do not exist,
am not an entity in this world or in the next,
did not descend from Adam and Eve or any
origin story. My place is placeless, a trace
of the traceless. Neither body or soul.
I belong to the beloved, have seen the two
worlds as one and that one call to and know,
first, last, outer, inner, only that
breath breathing human being.
Standing as a call to action for global environmental stewardship, Only Breath reminds viewers of the delicate balance we must maintain in our pursuit of a greener, more sustainable future.
Mankind’s opportunity for de-carbonising energy systems is short but with imagination we can move toward a responsible energy future.
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Courtesy and ©Torus Torus Studios, Science Museum and Renée Pfister 2024.
Video:
Courtesy and ©Torus Torus Studios, Science Museum, Royalty Free Music: Hope by Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: 6JGBHRPOEEVAQFPF (music) and Renée Pfister Art & Gallery Consultancy, with the assistance of Gözde Altun, 2024. All rights reserved.