Apr 18 2008Sunlight Poem Projector Is Brilliant, Beautiful
The One Day Poem Pavilion is cool and proof that the sun is smarter than you think. By sending his rays through an arrangement of pre-cut perforations he makes poems appear in the shadow of the little pavilion. You only get to see one stanza at a time, so it takes a good while to read an entire poem (worthwhile time lapse video here).
Using a complex array of perforations, the pavilion's surface allows light to pass through creating shifting patterns, which-during specific times of the year-transform into the legible text of a poem. The specific arrangements of the perforations reveal different shadow-poems according to the solar calendar: a theme of new-life during the summer solstice, a reflection on the passing of time at the period of the winter solstice.
That's beautiful. If I had any talent for building things I'd be tempted to construct one in the backyard with a little bench and maybe a garden gnome. No, a whole family of garden gnomes. I love those ornery little bastards. Well, except for papa gnome -- he's always trying to steal vegetables out of my garden. Plant some yourself you lazy freaking cheeseweasel!
Another picture of the pavilion's poetic beauty and a link to the time lapse video (in case you missed the link in the text), after the jump.
Sunbeam Poem Projector [monster-munch]
Thanks to Brendan, who is more powerful than the sun, for the tip
Reader Comments
1. guate6 - April 18, 2008 2:43 PM
This is very nice. A nice place to take one's sweet heart on a date.
2. guate6 - April 18, 2008 3:05 PM
...I just thought that some of you may not think it's romantic since it's a poem about life and not really about romance, but either way, I know some girls who would like that, which is whence my comment came.
3. butterbee - April 18, 2008 3:11 PM
They should've accounted for the skewing from the projection angle... making it more readable.
4. guate6 - April 18, 2008 4:45 PM
#3, I'm sure that if they would have implemented some prism system to keep the text straight, it would have cost a lot more to make than it already does. I think it's fine.
5. butterbee - April 18, 2008 4:54 PM
#4 The angle of the source light is constrained by the faceting. The ground isn't moving either... just make the hole pattern on the structure counter-skewed.... kinda like that douche that does the trompe l'oeil sidewalk art.
6. wiinja - April 18, 2008 6:51 PM
so it's like a pretentious stonehenge?
7. SmokingGirl - April 18, 2008 7:20 PM
Any poem that beings "Listen people..." you know you're in for some drivel of pompus and haughty proportions.
I may be no Poe or Plath, but I am not so banal and insipid as to start a poem with "Listen people..."
note: you can check out my poetry, which has won a few awards, by checking out my Myspace page. It's dark, graphic, and violent (the vast majority anyway) but I've been told they're well written. Enjoy.
8. Sesmu - April 18, 2008 7:51 PM
It's short, it's sweet, it's translated from Korean. Far from pompous just a reminder to live life to the fullest. You would've seen that if you read more into it before assuming it would turn into pompous drivel. If anything you're the one at risk of sounding pompous. :p
Listen people by Kim Ch'ŏn-taek
Listen people, wherever you are,
please attend to these words:
Will your youth last forever?
Will your white hair turn black again?
Life speeds by like a dream,
why not fill each minute with joy?
9. SmokingGirl - April 18, 2008 8:00 PM
I am pompus...and haughty. But I'm content with that.
10. Scott - April 18, 2008 11:57 PM
My maiden name is Poe Plath.
11. SmokingGirl - April 19, 2008 10:42 AM
Scott, that was an obvious ploy to get into my pants. Although since I'm not wearing any pants right now, it must have worked.
12. jab - April 19, 2008 2:44 PM
Listen people,
the video link doesn't work.
13. guate6 - April 19, 2008 7:47 PM
SmokingGirl: This may, in fact, be a stupid question, but his real name isn't "spawn" is it?
14. SmokingGirl - April 20, 2008 12:39 AM
Lol, no, his name isn't Spawn. However, I didn't think it prudent to put my childs name out there. One must be wary in this day and age...
15. Enterlight - April 20, 2008 1:45 AM
Eh, i have nothing bad to say about it. Kind of cool.
16. guate6 - April 20, 2008 8:53 PM
SmokingGirl: you're right. I was just making sure. This day and age, as you put it, it wouldn't surprise me if someone named their child "Spawn." Good call though. So I wonder if Scott knows you're married...or even if he cares for that matter.
17. bryan - April 20, 2008 9:32 PM
cool. i wonder who sat there all day waiting for the message to change. oh wait the camera guy did. i wish i could spend just one whole day sitting at a park. im to scared ima get shot.
18. Bob - April 21, 2008 9:24 AM
I wonder if this contributes to global warming... hmmm... maybe I can get a $1 million grant to study that...
http://myspace.com/chindigband
19. SmokingGirl - April 21, 2008 11:15 AM
@16...I don't think he really cares.