Martin Smith Kinetic Arboretum - The Bowes Museum

About

This year we welcome three artworks by UK-based artist, Martin Smith (b. 1972) to The Bowes Museum. Sited in the Museum’s grounds this summer, Kinetic Arboretum’s (2018) three metal trees will respond to the elements with gentle, rhythmical movements.

Inside, Bird Wave (2007) and Wishing You Well (2019) draw our attention to the parts of functional objects we rarely see; highlighting, rather than hiding, mechanisms.  Bird Wave’s 73 pairs of wings gently flap; gears, cams and rods rotating and sliding in automated harmony; whilst Wishing You Well’s mechanical pool of water ripples and rolls into life through coin-operated offering.