A ‘ Comet ‘ in Brooklyn | StudioKCA
Jason Klimoski and Lesley Chang of StudioKCA have been known to create installations that pay tribute to natural form. World Science Festival, NASA, and ESA commissioned the duo with an installation signifying the successful landing of “Rosette” spacecraft on a comet. In response, the designers have come up with a ‘comet’ depicting the historical milestone. The installation is actually a model of a comet at a scale of 1:1000. Made up of around 67 folded steel plates, it has a dimension of 9 feet by 12 feet. The form has been hammered to create a rough rocky texture as found on a comet. Apart from that, water jet cutters and flame torches have also been used to mold the structure in a desirable shape. A comet has holes through which water vapor escapes the core. The extreme heat of the sun normally causes ice to directly convert into water vapor. To demonstrate this phenomenon, the designers created holes through which vapor escapes the central core. There is a section of scientists who believe that it was a comet through which water came upon our planet. To depict that, the entire installation has been staged in the middle of a water body created to enhance the overall effect and impact of the installation. Also, around 600 watts of LED’s have been used in the framed core of the structure and fitted such that they illuminate the model at the night. This play of light and smoke is an element that is bound to attract a large audience. The first destination to exhibit this installation was set to be Brooklyn and for one year, the plan is to display it in various cities all over the world. This is an innovative way of communicating with people and educating them about the universe while informing them of the feats achieved by contemporary scientists.
By: Vaibhav Sharma
