This is a thermoelectric lantern using energy from one tea-light candle to power 6 high brightness LED fireflies who cluster round the flame. The combined light output of the LEDs is about 100 times more than the light output of the candle.
It’s constructed using a chip from an old 12v fridge, which normally uses electricity to create a temperature difference across its two faces. In a fridge, one side of this chip is kept at room temperature, and therefore the other side becomes colder.
In this project, we run this effect in reverse, heating one side of the chip with a candle, and allowing the other side to cool with a heatsink from an old Dell computer. So we generate small voltage which we then amplify to power the LEDs.
The lamp is made from an antique Chinese-made oil lamp. The oil fill valve on the back of the lamp has been converted into the control switch with 3 modes – FIREFLIES – OFF – HI-BEAM.
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Tags:art·LED·portfolio
“temporosaurus” by Anthony Goh, 2011, 2.5m x 1.5m x 2.5m high, discarded pallets
Temporosaurus is constructed from unwanted forklift pallets. These pallets are temporarily rearranged to give life to a creature of myth – a tyrannosaur – whose purpose is to be ritually burned. From the audience perspective, the fire marks the start of the creature’s life, but as soon as it is lit and becomes alive, it is also simultaneously dying as the flames consume it. So it illustrates that to die beautifully whilst giving warmth and light to others is also to live fully.
Photography by Lucy Tanner
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Tags:animals·art·dinosaurs·sculpture
UPDATE: see pics and vids of the installation in action here
This weekend at the V&A, there are a bunch of workshops, events, art and joining-in stuff that celebrate digital art and design. Me and Neil will be there all day Saturday and Sunday with some robotic birds constructed out of mobile phones so pop down and say hi if you’re around. We will be talking to anyone who listens about microcontrollers and hardware hacking(!) aka the language of love.
Mobile phone birds in construction phase
It’s all free. Other highlights include light graffiti workshops, Hidden V&A iPod tours, and toy hacking. Full programme here:
Digital Design Weekend at the V&A on 25&26th September
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Tags:art·mobile phone birds·V&A
