artworks
Contortion represents an evolution in the exploration of pneumatic structures, stepping beyond the constraints of its predecessor, The Walking Cube. Conceived as a manipulable, minimal form, it seeks to defy the rigidity of conventional structures, embracing a fluid and adaptive identity. Its Trihedral Frame juxtaposes conformity and non-conformity, balancing the stability of geometric order with the dynamic unpredictability of transformation.
The work embodies suppressed tensions, reflecting the dystopian struggle between the conformity of mechanized existence and the desire for autonomy. Its movements—contained yet expressive—become acts of rebellion against structured systems, continuously reshaping within the tension of expansion and restriction. Interactive and responsive, Contortion reacts to presence with randomized animations, its shifting forms symbolizing defiance and the relentless pursuit of freedom within a mechanical order.
materials: aluminum · steel · pneumatic pistons · springs · air tubes · bungee cable suspension · custom electronics
concept, design, fabrication, programming : Jason Cook
Dimensions: 65 x 90 x 90 cm (all pistons closed) — 92 x 112 x 112 cm (all pistons open)
Lulu White v2 is a reimagining of the original version from 2013. The mechanics, motorization, and overall structure have been redesigned to ensure more reliable performance.
Lulu White was conceived to challenge the perceived boundaries between spectator and spectacle, often present in traditional opening ceremonies (vernissages) at galleries, museums, art festivals, or markets. A performer, wearing a wireless glove embedded with sensors, remotely controls an object with real-time precision. This dual presence allows the performer to mingle with spectators and participate in social ritual while simultaneously projecting their actions into the exhibition space, dissolving the boundaries between the viewer and the viewed.
Lulu White is tactile: ostrich feathers represent fingers, inviting contact with spectators. The chosen aesthetic, along with the name itself, redefines 'the machine,' exploring themes of seduction and imbuing the mechanical with human intimacy and allure.
materials: ostrich feathers · nylon · aluminum · wood · custom electronics · glove · sensors · arduino · servo motors
dimensions: 34 x 25 x 90 cm
concept, design, fabrication, programming : Jason Cook
Hypnosis is a meticulously crafted object born from repurposed studio materials. As its title suggests, the piece delves into aesthetic experimentation, exploring the captivating interaction between a violet laser and phosphorescent paint applied to a tinted plexiglass surface.
The artwork employs two actuators (one rotational and one linear) controlled by a micro-controller programmed to create a series of ring-based patterns. These ephemeral drawings glow briefly before fading away, echoing the transient nature of the phosphorescent medium. Through this dynamic process, Hypnosis invites viewers to reflect on the fleeting beauty of light and motion.
materials: acrylic, phosphorescent paint, violet laser, 3D-printed components, aluminium, slip ring, stepper motors, arduino , custom electronics
dimensions: 30 x 30 x 15 cm
concept, design, fabrication, programming : Jason Cook
The Walking Cube is the result of a geometric exploration designed to make a minimal form both dynamic and unpredictable while preserving its initial structure. Futurist in nature, it embodies suppressed tensions and discontent with the conformities of mechanical daily life. At first glance, the Cube adheres to expectations of order and symmetry—solid, symmetrical, and contained. Yet, it defies these constraints, transforming into a myriad of regular and irregular shapes. Powered by air-pressured mechanics, its sudden, forceful shape-shifting becomes an act of rebellion, echoing the noise and aggression of the machinery that dominates our modern existence.