Installation commissioned by the Prefecture of Iwate for their new main administrative building in Morioka the ‘electronic tree’ is the last work of French sculptor Piotr Kowalski. Permanently installed in a 4 storey mezzanine on the 4th floor the sculpture was ‘built in’ during the construction of the building. The ‘electronic tree’ constructed in steel and aluminium is animated by the movement of it’s branchesand a constantly changing light from the underside of it’s leaves. With the aid of measuring apparatus situated on the roof of the building the ‘electronic tree’ reacts to the environment; the changing direction and force of the wind, and the position of the sun in the sky. The movement, the constantly changing colours and the organic forms of the work create a link with nature for the occupants of this austere man made environment The technical design of the sculpture is subject to numerous constraints including the dynamic nature of the structure, requirements of resistance to earthquakes, particularly severe with respect to it’s size and location inan important public building.
