My proposal for the 2016 Burning Man Festival is a small tessellated mechanical object, a movable cube open to the sky to welcome the curious travellers. It creates an enigmatic place for meditation, interactivity, meeting and reflection.

 

‘Da Vinci Codex’ is a latticed sculptural piece which creates unique poetics of morphology that merges structure and movement. It transgresses the artificial boundary between art, science and technology, casting seemingly established analogies in a new light while inviting visitors to rethink the relationship between form, geometry and construction. Linear and curved scissor elements form a series of recursive cubes which speak of infinity and the complexity of our world. The size of each member has been carefully considered not only to allow structural integrity but also to respect the proportions of the human body. 

Each face of the cube moves in a synchronised manner. The relationship between the size of each face and proportions of the human body has been inspired by da Vinci’s Vitruvian man. The precision of the cubic form reflects the organised chaos of our universe. Poignant patterns inspired by a study into the scissor movement of the cube elements are perforated into the triangulated parts of the Codex. 

A deployment mechanism inspired by study into Leonardo da Vinci’s machinery sketches found in his Codex Atlanticus is actuated by a series of gears situated at the base of the structure, which are set into motion by a pedal system powered by visitors. As burners interact with the piece, they contemplate a fascinating and spectacular change of light and decor. ‘Da Vinci Codex’ stands as a piece of event architecture, a spatial construct where movement is a transformational creative force. By powering one of the four pedal systems connected to the deploying mechanism, the burners witness a captivating movement: the synchronised expanding and collapsing of the three cubes which cast intricate shadows and stimulate a sense of play.