SpY

Spanish artist SpY is known for his large-scale installations that engage urban spaces around the globe. His work invites audiences to get involved, combining deep concepts with striking visuals. By doing this, he explores human connections and reimagines cities as places full of untapped potential.

His latest project, Infinity, is situated within the Shanghai Lingang Artificial Intelligence Lab within the World Laureates Association (WLA) Science Community in Lingang New Area that was developed by the Parkland Group with design input from SIADR, PLP Architecture, and Arup.

SpY integrated four key elements into his conception and creation. First, the sculpture features 90 slats that rotate continuously, producing intricate visual patterns that evolve throughout the day and night, influenced by shifting light and materials. Second, the audience is invited to engage with the piece from various angles, experiencing its dynamic nature as they move around. Third, the sculpture embodies endless movement, presenting a non-orientable form that fascinates viewers with its complexity. The fourth and final element is time, as each observation reveals a unique moment in the artwork’s transformation.

Our design team in Shanghai developed a spatial structure featuring a ring supported by a 3-metre-diameter framework, with 90 sets of 3.6-metre-long metal rods. The kinetic beauty of the installation is enhanced by 90 independent motors, meticulously controlled by a computer, which reveal the elegance of spatial trans-temporality and mathematical curves.

The motors demand micro-control accuracy to within 1 millimetre, necessitating constant adjustments to compensate for gravitational deformation in the rods. Each of the 90 rods undergoes independent micro-regulation to attain a harmonious visual balance. Only once each element was aligned could the artwork be painted, revealing the harmony hidden within this highly technical process.