Fulcrum

Fulcrum was a mechanical animation installation that combined intricately carved miniature scenes, robotic cameras and computer technology to create a continuously looped, live animation video.

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Fulcrum includes elements of film, sculpture, animation, performance, and kinetic dioramas to create an installation accompanied by a mechanically played electric guitar. 

In a darkened room, a large array of carved wooden scenes depict small town life. 

In the middle of the scenes, a video camera on the end of a long robotic arm zooms in and out of the mechanically animated wooden scenes. In a second adjacent space, the robotic scenes are projected live onto a cinema screen. The non-stop-motion animation film created in real time by a robotic camera depicts a carved female wooden character on a train journey through Northern moors and towns. 

 

The installation was enjoyed by all ages and toured parts of the UK in museums and studios in Manchester and Yorkshire. 

Fulcrum was created by IOU, commissioned by Junction, Goole in 2013 in collaboration with artists Jim Bond, Andy Plant and Richard Wincer.  

A 3D wood carving, painted and textured, featuring a man fishing

"Very atmospheric, sets the imagination and memories whirring."

Audience Member, Fulcrum
A wooden 3D dolls house with four storeys
A model wooden house, with lights on in the windows

Fulcrum toured at:

  • Junction, Goole, 19/09/2013 – 21/09/2013
  • IOU Studio, Dean Clough Mills, 25/01/2014 – 22/02/2014
  • The Civic, Barnsley, 02/07/2014 – 06/07/2014
  • New Picture House, Dewsbury, 25/03/2015 – 28/03/2015
  • Z-arts, Manchester, 23/06/2015 – 28/06/2015
  • 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe, 26/09/2015 – 03/10/2015