Solar Powered Sidewalk Art: The One Day Poem Pavilion

Posted on December 14, 2008 by Doug Gunzelmann in Art, Concept+Design

Jiyeon Song created this installation that uses the changing angle of the sun’s light to cast light and shadows forming words. As the sun follows its path across the sky lines from an ancient Korean poem are cast on the ground. The details of the technique are tricky.

Through many small scale models, geometry, and computer programing methods the two layered perforated pavilion successfully shows the Sijo 6 line poem by Korean poet Kim Ch’on-taek.

The Sijo that I have chosen is written by Kim Ch’on-taek (1725-1766) and speaks about the finite nature of human life.

Our life is finite. There are many things we can only do in a certain moment of the life, such as loving, forgiving, giving, helping, etc. Through the poem in the pavilion, I am offering a moment for people to rethink their values about life.

Although this project is not necessarily directly green (it does use the sun’s light to function however) it does offer an opportunity to focus on nature, life, and time.

Jiyeon Song is trying to create an experience that will stay with the audience. The One Day Poem Pavilion is a medium to communicate with people that is meant to contrast to modern day methods such as large LED displays and man made light source projections used to blast consumer based messages in our faces as we stroll the city streets.

We are forced to slow down and contemplate our existence.

The resulting effect is inviting and magical. Within the pavilion, the poem can be seen between 8 AM and 4PM. The poem consists of 6 lines with each line lasting about an hour. The slowness of message offers us a meditative moment within our hectic lives.

Source: People.artcenter.edu

Art, Design, nature, solar