Tagesanzeiger - Amazing Whimsical Mechanics
May 14th, 1993
Translation from the German by Dominik Essing and Christiana, edited by Norman Tuck
Amazing Whimsical Mechanics. Art Machines by Norman Tuck at the Technorama.
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In the bell tent at Technorama a heavenly reaper is currently spinning, chains are flying wildly over wheels, LEDs are blinking, balls are swinging mysteriously through the air, and bamboo sticks of a random clockwork are clashing together.
“Art Machines” is what the technical museum in Oberwinthertur calls these whimsical artworks built by the American tinkerer and artist Norman Tuck.
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All 22 exhibits of the special exhibition which opened yesterday (until September 19th) have one thing in common: They are based on simple mechanics that offer a playful and intuitively accessible approach to physics. With their magnets, old bicycle chains, gearwheels and cranks the exhibits are arranged in a very elaborate, surprising and amusing way. The “exhibit” [artwork] which Norman Tuck has named “Disco” consists of a platform that spins around and becomes a magic carrousel on which you move backwards while walking forward.
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The exhibition shows Norman Tuck’s most important works. He is a 47 year-old trained car mechanic who has moved on to get a degree in fine arts. The complete show can be seen in Europe for the first time after its premiere in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Tuck has planned further shows in New Jersey and Toronto.
